Cyrus McCormick

Cyrus Hall McCormick (* February 15, 1809 in Rockbridge County, Virginia; † May 13, 1884 in Chicago ) was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.

Life

Cyrus McCormick was the eldest son of the farmer Robert McCormick, the sideline and not very successfully worked as an inventor and designer. Cyrus received a very limited education, yet his inventive mind at the age of 15 years showed when he in 1824 constructed a compact recording device for the grain harvest. From his father he took over in 1831 plans to build a horse-drawn mower ( Reaper ). This had fiddled since 1815 on the machine, but it never brought to final completion. Within six weeks, managed by his son Cyrus to modify the plans for the mower crucial to build a first version and test successfully. The driven from the left wheel cutting of the horse-drawn Virginia Reaper excelled in comparison to the previously constructed inadequate Mähvorrichtungenen by the fact that, due to its manner of construction - movable blade between so-called fingers - was in a position that to be cut cornstalks during the ride jacking device for a short time - as with a pair of scissors - to fix the blade and finger to the actual cutting process ( cutting bar ). At the end of 1831 he was able to present his "Virginia Reaper" to the public for the first time. After further improvements Cyrus received on 21 June 1834, the American patent for his mower.

The marketing his invention was very successful in the following years. 1847 Cyrus McCormick moved his workshop to Chicago to deliver his machines from there throughout the agrarian Midwest. The machine factory produced more than 1,500 copies for the harvest season in 1848 500 McCormick Reaper and for the 1849 season. 1856 Cyrus took his brothers William and Leander in the company, and so founded the forerunner of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. This year, over 4,000 pieces of "Virginia Reaper" were sold.

The McCormick machines have been steadily developing over the next few years. 1857 McCormick filed a patent for a mower with coach box and followed in 1858 the patent for a mower with automatic rake.

Cyrus McCormick in 1858 married Nancy ( Nettie ) Fowler, with whom he had seven children. Outside of the business world, he was actively involved in the Presbyterian Church and founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. McCormick died in Chicago in 1884, where he had spent the last years of life. He was followed by his eldest son, Cyrus McCormick II, until 1902, the company's chairmanship.

Organization and distribution

The economic success owe the McCormick machines different circumstances. Especially the western expansionism, coupled with the construction of railways, meant that the product was known throughout the country and could be sold. McCormick was next to his technical ingenuity but also economic understanding. The buyers were set up simplified purchase price loans that could be repaid with the increased crop yields. Written guarantees, extensive introductions to the operation of the machinery on site and a network of sales representatives completed the sales program of the McCormick brothers.

Agricultural and socio-historical importance

Invented by McCormick manner of construction of the cutter bar initiated a revolution in harvesting technology. Due to the much higher work rates than with conventional cutting technique with scythe or sickle personnel requirements decreased significantly in the agricultural sector in the following years; the released staff migrated to the cities and hired himself out in the emerging industry.

The "Virginia Reaper" was the first mechanical harvesting aid and meant the advent of the Industrial Revolution in agriculture.

In addition, his machine was a relief to the westward expansion during this period. The most famous advertisement of the company joined Emanuel Leutze's epic painting Westward the course of empire takes its way with the slogan " .. with McCormick Reapers in the Van ". U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward said that because of this invention, " the line of civilization moves westward thirty miles each year. ".

Awards

Cyrus McCormick received many prizes and awards for his inventions. From the Académie des sciences in 1851 he appointed a corresponding member, "because he had done more for agriculture than any other. ". Also in 1851 he was inducted as an officer in the French Legion of Honour and the Reaper won his Gold Medal at the Great Exhibition in London.