Lewis Latimer
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Lewis Howard Latimer (September 4, 1848 - December 11, 1928) was an African American inventor.
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Birth
He was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts on September 4, 1848, to Rebecca (1826-?) and George Latimer (c1826-c1880),the slave of James Gray, who were runaway slaves. Rebecca and George were both born in Virginia. Lewis had a sibling: William H. Latimer (1846-?) who worked as a barber.
Crosby and Gould
After receiving an honorable discharge on July 3, 1865, he gained employment as an office boy with a patent law firm, Crosby and Gould, with a $3.00 per week salary. He learned how to use a L square, ruler, and other tools. Later, after his boss recognized his talent for sketching patent drawings, Latimer was promoted to the position of head draftsman earning $20.00 a week.
Marriage
He married Mary Wilson (1848-1937) in November of 1873 and later had two daughters, Jeanette and Louise. Mary was born in Rhode Island.
Toilets
In 1873, he invented an improved toilet system for railroad cars called the water closet for railroad cars. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell hired Latimer to draft the necessary drawings required to receive a patent for Bell's telephone.
Bridgeport
In 1880, he moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut with his brother, William, his mother, Rebecca, and his wife. Lewis was hired as assistant manager and draftsman for the US Electric Lighting Company. Latimer received a patent in January 1882 for the "Process of Manufacturing Carbons", an improved method for the production of lightbulb filaments which yielded longer lasting bulbs than Thomas Edison's technique.