Lewis Latimer Biography

Lewis Latimer was an engineer and inventor born to parents who escaped slavery. While employed at a
patent firm, Latimer acquired proficiency in mechanical drawing. Throughout his tenure as a draftsman,
he collaborated closely with notable figures such as Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison while
also creating his own innovations.

He was born on Born on 4th September 1848, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Prior his birth, his parents had
escaped slavery in Virginia. His father George Latimer was captured in Boston and was tried as a fugitive
and was represented by abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass in court. George
secured his freedom with the help of a local minister and settled with his wife Rebecca in Chelsea, where
they started a family. After the 1857 Dred Scott decision, George disappeared out of fear of being a
victim of slavery in the South.

Following his father's departure, Latimer took on the responsibility of supporting his mother and family.
During the civil war in 1864, he faked his age at the age of 16 to join to join the US Navy. Upon his
honourable discharge, he returned to Boston and secured a menial position at the Crosby and Gould law
firm. He learnt drafting and mechanical drawing through observation. He developed his skills and was
promoted from an office boy to a draftsman. Among his roles in the firm, Latimer stated to pursue his
own inventions including air conditioning unit and railroad car enhancements.

Latimer's aptitudes aligned perfectly with the era following the Civil War, characterized by numerous
scientific and engineering advancements. Notably, he played a significant role in in invention of the
telephone. Collaborating with Bell, Latimer contributed to drafting the patent for Bell's telephone design.
Additionally, he ventured into the fiercely competitive realm of incandescent lighting, working alongside
Hiram Maxim and Edison in this field.

Latimer's profound expertise in both patents and electrical engineering rendered him a supportive
partner – Edison as he advocated for and safeguarded his light bulb design. He wrote a book titled
"Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System" In 1890, and continued to
be a patent consultant until 1922.

In 1873, He married Mary Wilson, and their union bore two daughters. Latimer remained engaged with
Civil War veteran organizations. In addition to his drafting expertise, Latimer pursued various creative
pursuits, including poetry, playing the flute, and playwriting. During his leisure hours, he also contributed
to the community by teaching English and mechanical drawing to new immigrants at the Henry Street
Settlement in New York.

On December 11, 1928, Latimer passed away in Flushing, Queens, New York.