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Mechanical Engineer & Inventor!

OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur, Engineer, Inventor

BIRTH DATE: May 02, 1844

DEATH DATE: October 10, 1929

PLACE OF BIRTH: Colchester, Ontario, Canada

PLACE OF DEATH: Detroit, Michigan

FULL NAME: Elijah J. McCoy

In Michigan, McCoy could find work only as a fireman 

and oiler at the Michigan Central Railroad. In a home-

based machine shop in Ypsilanti Michigan, it was 

because of his line of work that he developed his first 

major inventions. When he studied the inefficient 

operations that existed in oil systems of axles, McCoy 

invented a lubricating cup that distributed oil equally 

throughout the engine moving parts. He has acquired a 

patent for the invention, which allowed trains to run 

continuously for long periods of time without stopping 

for maintenance

At a young age, Elijah McCoy showed a strong 

Curiosity in Mechanics. His parents arranged for him 

to travel to Scotland at the age of 15. To learn a 

trade & Study in mechanical engineering. After a 

couple of years, in Scotland he became certified as a 

mechanical engineer. After his return he reunited 

with his family in Michigan.

McCoy continued to make improvements on his devices 

and construct new ones: 50 of his patents is based with 

lubrication systems. While most of his inventions that 

are related to lubrication systems, he has also developed 

designs for a ironing board, a lawn sprinkler, and other 

machines. Even though McCoy's achievements were 

recognized in his own time, his name did appear on most 

of the invention products he invented. Lubrication 

systems with McCoy's name did not appear till the end of 

his career. In 1920, Mccoy formed the Elijah McCoy 

Manufacturing Company to produce lubricators labeling 

his name.  

McCoy married Ann Elizabeth Stewart in 1868:she died four 

years later.

He married a second time in 1873,to Mary Eleanor Delaney. They 

moved to Detroit when he found work there.Marry McCoy(b. -d. 

1922) was one of the founders of the Phillis Wheatley Home for 

Aged Colored Men in 1898.

Elijah McCoy died in the Eloise Infirmary,in Nankin Township now 

Westland, Michigan October 10, 1929 at the age of 86. He had 

continued to suffer from injuries from a car accident seven years 

earlier in which his wife Mary died. He was buried at Detroit 

Memorial Park East in Warren, Michigan

 Ann Elizabeth Stewart

"Elijah McCoy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 

20 Mar. 2014.

Bellis, Mary. "Elijah McCoy - Life of An Inventor." About.com 

Inventors. About.com, 05 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

"Elijah McCoy Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 

2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

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