Frederick McKinley Jones (1893-1961) was born in Cincinnati on May 7, 1983, and was an African-american inventor responsible for revolutionizing portable refrigeration. Self-taught in mechanical and electrical engineering, he was known to assemble contraptions from early prototype snowmobiles to cars. After securing an engineering license, he served in WWI in an all African-American unit working on wiring, machinery, and instrumentation. Later he develop a patented portable refrigerating unit that was more stable and allowed for fresh produce to be shipped anywhere in the U.S.
He later co-founded Thermo King, a refrigeration company. His invention was crucial during WWII and was used to refrigerate blood, medicine, and food that was transferred to troops. Jones ultimately patented around 60 inventions before he took an early retirement due to illness. He passed away in 1961 from lung cancer and received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation posthumously in 1991, making him the first African-American to receive this award.
In 1944, he was the first African American member of the American Society of Refrigeration Engineers. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007.
References:
- https://www.fox9.com/news/legacy-of-frederick-mckinley-jones-black-minnesota-inventor-who-pioneered-refrigerated-transportation
- https://www.biography.com/inventors/frederick-jones
- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/jones-frederick-mckinley-1893-1961/
- https://www.msthalloffame.org/frederick_mckinley_jones.htm
- https://aaregistry.org/story/frederick-mckinley-jones-innovator-of-many-devices/
- https://www.thermoking.com/na/en/why-thermo-king/frederick-mckinley-jones-story.html#:~:text=After%20revolutionizing%20his%20town’s%20radio,Thermo%20King%20came%20to%20be
Image Source: Frederick McKinley Jones by Anonymous – Original publication: unknown, published by National Inventors Hall of FameImmediate source: National Inventors Hall of Fame, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44413348
