Eli Whitney was an American inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer who lived in New England from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. He helped revolutionize cotton processing and factory manufacturing with his inventions and methods.

Eli Whitney

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Eli Whitney summary

Eli Whitney

Q: What did Eli Whitney invent?

Eli Whitney’s most famous invention was the cotton gin , which enabled the rapid separation of seeds from cotton fibres. Built in 1793, the machine helped make cotton a profitable export crop in the southern United States and further promoted the use of slavery for cotton cultivation.

Q: How did Eli Whitney impact the world?

In addition to his famous cotton gin , Eli Whitney is often credited with the development of the American System of manufacturing, in which identical parts are assembled into the finished products. In 1797 he proposed the manufacture of muskets with completely interchangeable parts , one of the first applications of mass production methods.

American inventor and manufacturer

Written by Jeannette Mirsky

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jan 4, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Born:: December 8, 1765, Westboro, Massachusetts [U.S.]

Died:: January 8, 1825, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. (aged 59)

Awards And Honors:: Hall of Fame (1900)

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Who was Eli Whitney?

What did Eli Whitney invent?

How did Eli Whitney impact the world?

Eli Whitney (born December 8, 1765, Westboro, Massachusetts [U.S.]—died January 8, 1825, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.) was an American inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer, often hailed as “father of American technology.” He is best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin but most importantly for developing the concept of mass production of interchangeable parts. Whitney’s father was a respected farmer who served as a justice of the peace. During the American Revolution, British embargoes created unique demands for various goods, and young Whitney manufactured nails and later hatpins to satisfy the market. In May 1789 he entered Yale College, ...(100 of 939 words)

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