George Washington Carver
This article is about the inventor. For other uses see the president. George Washington Carver (c. January 1860 – January 5, 1943) was an American educator, scientist, botanist (someone who works with plants), and inventor. He is best known for his work with peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other crops.
Carver’s reputation is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes, which also aided nutrition for farm families. He wanted poor farmers to grow alternative crops both as a source of their own food and as a source of other products to improve their quality of life.
The most popular of his 44 practical bulletins for farmers contained 105 food recipes using peanuts. He also developed and promoted about 100 products made from peanuts that were useful for the house and farm, including cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline, and nitroglycerin. He received numerous honors for his work, including the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP.
He was born into slavery in January 1864 in Diamond, Missouri. The exact date of his birth is unknown. He studied in Simpson College when he was 22. Much of Carver’s fame is based on his research. He died on January 5, 1943 after a fall he had in his home in Tuskegee, Alabama on January 5, 1943.
Written for younger readers
George Washington Carver, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: Famous Inventors
He was born into slavery in Newton County, Marion Township, near Diamond Grove, now known as Diamond, Missouri. He was born on July 12, 1864[7]. His owner, Moses Carver, was a German American immigrant who had purchased George’s mother, Mary, from William P. McGinnis on October 9, 1855.
Did You Know?
- First interesting fact.
- Another interesting fact.
- Yet another interesting fact. He was born as a slave and it took him years to get in college.
He actually couldn’t go to school because he was a black slave.
he made conditioner to soften hair, popcorn to eat, and soy milk for people who are allergic to cow’s milk.
Where this page comes from
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