George Westinghouse was an American businessman and inventor who impacted numerous aspects of modern day life. His inventions included the air brake to regulate the speed of trains and the Westinghouse Electric Company. He was born on October 6th, 1846 in New York City.
Westinghouse’s father, George Westinghouse Sr., was a farmer, blacksmith, and businessman who founded and managed a mechanical workshop. Westinghouse grew up in upstate New York and was educated both at home and in a series of schools, as well as through independent study. He was particularly interested in machinery and engineering.
In 1862, at the age of 16, Westinghouse enlisted in Union Army and served at various regiments. A year later, he was discharged due to health issues. After the Civil War, Westinghouse began to focus on engineering, and soon applied several model steam engines he designed to drive pumps, generators, and other machines used in the paper and lumber industries. Westinghouse set up his first factory in Pittsburgh in 1869.
Westinghouse’s most significant invention was the air brake, patented in 1869. The air brake worked by using compressed air to stop and slow trains. Westinghouse worked tirelessly to promote and install the brakes, which allowed for heavier and faster trains and improved railway safety significantly.
Westinghouse also made important contributions to the development of electricity. His Westinghouse Electric Company developed many of the working components of the modern electrical system. Westinghouse pioneered the distribution of electricity from a central power plant to customers’ homes and businesses. He was a strong advocate for alternating current (AC) rather than direct current (DC), which was the standard at the time. AC power was more efficient, cost-effective, and safe to transmit over long distances.
Westinghouse was an influential businessman who also had an impressive love for the world of invention. He filed over 400 patents and founded dozens of companies. He received more than twenty awards for his various inventions and was part of the first group of pioneers inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He died at the age of 67 in 1914.
George Westinghouse’s genius was seen in numerous facets of modern life. He helped revolutionize industries, created groundbreaking inventions, and inspired future innovators. Westinghouse was truly a visionary who changed the face of industry and technology for decades to come.
