WHITNEY, ELI

Whitney, Eli: translation

(1765-1825)

Born in Westborough, Massachusetts, the son of a farmer, Whitney graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale College in 1792. In 1793, he invented a mechanical device that separated seeds fromcotton—until his invention, this was an arduous process. Known as a cotton gin, it automated the processing of cotton and was responsible for the economic development of the Southern United States and also helped to lower the cost of cotton textiles, which were in high demand during theIndustrial Revolution. Whitney's concept of interchangeable rifle parts went on to surpass his cotton gin invention, which was so widely copied that he was forced out of business by 1797.