1800-1860

American Inventor

American inventor Charles Goodyear made important contributions to the practical application of rubber and its related industries. His discovery of the process of vulcanization, by which raw rubber could be made into a strong, malleable material, became useful for a large number of common products, most famously the rubber tire.

Goodyear's father was a New Haven, Connecticut, hardware inventor, manufacturer, and merchant specializing in farm tools, but also purveying items as diverse as pearl buttons. While attending public school, young Charles spent much time at his father's store, factory, and farm. He showed an interest in studying for the clergy, but his father saw a budding businessman and arranged for Charles to learn the hardware trade at a firm in Philadelphia. He did and, upon returning to New Haven and entering into partnership with his father, contributed to the success of their business...