Did you know? Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1856) holds the distinction of being the first African-American to receive a patent, granted on March 3, 1821. In his twenties, Jennings established himself as a tailor and later ventured into opening a dry cleaning business in New York City. It was there that he invented the “dry-scouring” technique, a precursor to modern dry cleaning, and secured a patent for his process. Jennings' achievement sparked significant controversy, as the patent laws of the time (dating back to 1793) prohibited slaves from patenting their inventions. These laws upheld the unjust view that "the master is the owner of the fruits of the labor of the slave, both manual and intellectual.” Jennings’ story is a testament to the power of innovation and the struggle for intellectual property rights. In 1861 patent rights were finally extended to slaves, 5 years after Jennings’ death. Follow for more such amazing IP stories.
