George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver (1860-1943) was an American agricultural chemist best known for his work in the field of agriculture. Carver was responsible for reviving dying crops, particularly peanuts.

Carver was born in 1860 to slave parents. Carver and his mother were kidnapped one night, and although Carver's mother was never found, Carver was eventually ransomed for a racing horse.

Carver was sent to Southwest Missouri where he attended a one-room school while working as a farm hand. Carver went on to Minneapolis High School in Kansas and in 1877 entered Simpson College. Carver worked hard to support himself while in college. Carver eventually outgrew the laboratories at Simpson College and transferred to the Iowa Agricultural College, now known as Iowa State University. Carver excelled at the school and graduated in 1894. Carver was appointed to a position on the school's faculty, the first black man to serve in that...