Elijah McCoy

Elijah McCoy was born in Canada to parents who had escaped slavery. As a teenager, he traveled to Scotland to train as an engineer. However, upon returning to the United States, he struggled to secure an engineering job and instead found work with a railroad. His position at the Michigan Central Railroad was a fireman and oiler. There, he developed a lubrication device that improved the efficiency of railroad operations. After analyzing the inefficiencies of the existing axle oiling system, McCoy developed a lubricating cup that automatically distributed oil evenly across an engine's moving parts. He secured a patent for his invention, which enabled trains to operate for extended periods without the need for frequent maintenance stops.