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Who is john albert burr

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Former Slave Turned Inventor Patented Technology Still Being Used in Lawn Mowers Today

In May 1899, John Albert Burr, an African American inventor from Maryland, patented very innovative technology that is still being used today in modern-day lawn mowers. He did not invent the first lawn mower, but he did design a lawn mower with traction wheels and rotary blades that would not get easily clogged up from grass and weeds. He also drastically improved the lawn mower's design making it possible to mow closer to buildings and wall edges.

All in all, Burr held over 30 U.S. patents for lawn care and agricultural inventions. In fact, even today's mulching power lawn mowers are part of his legacy.

Born in 1848, he was enslaved along with his parents, but they were later released during emancipation. As a slave, John worked as a field laborer during his teenage years. After emancipation, his engineering talents were later recognized by wealthy Black activists who provided him with the opportunity to attend engineering classes at a private university.

During his studies

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John A. Burr, Inventor born

*The birth of John Burr is celebrated on this date in 1848. He was a Black inventor.

Born in Maryland, John Albert Burr’s parents, John T. and Anna Wanger Burr, were slaves, but they were freed. Young Burr was a teenager during the American Civil War and worked as a fieldhand. His inventive talent was recognized, and wealthy Blacks ensured he could attend engineering classes at a private university.

He put his mechanical skills to work, making a living repairing and servicing farm equipment and other machines. He moved to Chicago and also worked as a steelworker. He was living in Agawam, Massachusetts when he filed his patent for the rotary mower in 1898.

His Lawn Mower patent was officially granted on May 9, 1899. He went to Harvard Business School. After he finished Harvard Business School, he moved to Chicago in the 1870s to continue to be a repairman and a capable steelworker. Burr continued to patent improvements to his design. He also designed devices for mulching clippings, sifting, and dispersing them. Today's mulching power mowers may be

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Biography of John Albert Burr

If you have a manual push mower today, it likely uses design elements from 19th Century Black American inventor John Albert Burr's patented rotary blade lawn mower.

On May 9, 1899, John Albert Burr patented an improved rotary blade lawn mower. Burr designed a lawn mower with traction wheels and a rotary blade that was designed to not easily get plugged up from lawn clippings. John Albert Burr also improved the design of lawn mowers by making it possible to mow closer to building and wall edges. You can view U.S. patent 624,749 issued to John Albert Burr.

Life of an Inventor

John Burr was born in Maryland in 1848, and was thus a teenager during the Civil War. His parents were enslaved and were later freed, and he may also have been enslaved until Emancipation which happened when he was 17. He didn't escape from manual labor, though, as he worked as a field hand during his teenage years.

But his talent was recognized and wealthy Black activists ensured he was able to attend engineering classes at a private university. He put his mechan