George Washington Carver’s story is nothing short of incredible. He was an African American born into slavery. He was kidnapped and recovered as an infant. At the end of the Civil War, he was freed, and George left home shortly after to pursue education. That’s just the beginning.

Carver faced rejection from schools because of his ethnicity, but he persevered through every trial as he pursued his interest in plants and agriculture. George excelled at his studies, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Iowa State University. A lover of the arts, he also studied painting and piano. After graduation, he taught at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute and directed their department of agriculture.

He’s best known for his groundbreaking work with southern farmers to plant peanuts and soybeans in lieu of the cotton plants. George was a Christian and gave credit to divine inspiration for his methods in addition to his study and work. Much more than a peanut man, Carver worked with sweet potatoes and saw potential in every plant. The cotton plants and southern economy were in critical condition from the boll weevil and poor soil conditions, and George put his new ideas to work.

The peanut wasn’t even seen as a crop when George W. Carver came to Tuskegee in 1896. After six years of implementing his ideas, the land experienced a huge turnaround and the economy flourished. His breakthroughs changed the agricultural world forever.

Carver received the honor of being elected into Britain’s Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Franklin D Roosevelt came to see him, and he was offered a job by our inventor Thomas Edison to work with him for more than $100,000 a year. Carver declined. He established the Carver Research Foundation at Tuskegee to propel agricultural research and was sought for his expertise by many world leaders.

I think one of the greatest things we can learn from George Washington Carver is not to let anything keep you from doing what you have a heart for. There were people who opposed Carver for terrible reasons, and the entire world would have suffered if he’d chosen to succumb to his oppressors. His intellect, work ethic, faith, bravery, and respect for the arts as well as science are inspiring.

What do you have a heart for, my fellow inventors?

Until next time,

Invent your story

(Sources include but not limited to britannica.com, biography.com)