Benjamin Bradley
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Bradley was born a slave
in Maryland
, around 1830. At that time, it was against the law to teach a slave how to read or write. Bradley was able to learn anyway, from his master's children. Bradley was also good at mathematics
and showed a natural talent for making things.
When Bradley became a teenager, he was put to work at an office. He built a working steam engine
from pieces of scrap metal. Others were so evolved with Bradley's mechanical skills that he was given a job that made better use of his talents. His new job was as an assistant in the science department at the United States Naval Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland
. There, Bradley set up and helped conduct experiments. Professors at the Naval Academy were impressed with Bradley. They said he was smart and a quick learner, and did not make mistakes when he prepared experiments in the laboratory. Bradley was paid in full for his work, but because he was a slave, the money he had made had to go to his master. The master allowed Bradley to keep five dollars a month just for himself.
Bradley had not forgotten his work with steam engines. He saved the money he earned, and sold his original model engine to a student at the Academy. Bradley then used his savings to develop and build an engine large enough to run the first steam-powered warship
.
Because he was a slave, Bradley was not allowed to get a patent
for the engine he developed. He was, however, able to sell the engine and keep the money. He used that money to buy his freedom
. He lived the rest of his life as a free man.
In 1857, however, a slave owner named Oscar Stewart applied for a patent on something one of his slaves had invented. Stewart argued that he owned all the results of his slave's labor, whether that work had been manual. Despite the laws, the Patent Office
agreed. The patent was granted, giving Stewart credit for the invention. The slave who actually came up with the idea (a cotton-processing device) is mentioned in the patent only as "Ned."
Because of the decision in the Stewart case, the patent law was changed to say that a slave could not hold a patent. When the Confederate States broke away from the United States in 1861, the Confederate government surprised many people by once again allowing slaves to hold patents. After the Civil War
, however, the patent law was changed again, specifying that all people throughout the United States had the right to patent their own inventions.
Benjamin Bradley's date of death was unknown.
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, around 1830. At that time, it was against the law to teach a slave how to read or write. Bradley was able to learn anyway, from his master's children. Bradley was also good at mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and showed a natural talent for making things.
When Bradley became a teenager, he was put to work at an office. He built a working steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
from pieces of scrap metal. Others were so evolved with Bradley's mechanical skills that he was given a job that made better use of his talents. His new job was as an assistant in the science department at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. There, Bradley set up and helped conduct experiments. Professors at the Naval Academy were impressed with Bradley. They said he was smart and a quick learner, and did not make mistakes when he prepared experiments in the laboratory. Bradley was paid in full for his work, but because he was a slave, the money he had made had to go to his master. The master allowed Bradley to keep five dollars a month just for himself.
Bradley had not forgotten his work with steam engines. He saved the money he earned, and sold his original model engine to a student at the Academy. Bradley then used his savings to develop and build an engine large enough to run the first steam-powered warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
.
Because he was a slave, Bradley was not allowed to get a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
for the engine he developed. He was, however, able to sell the engine and keep the money. He used that money to buy his freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
. He lived the rest of his life as a free man.
Patent Information
Benjamin Bradley's name appears in few books, perhaps because he was not able to get a patent for his work. Just as there was disagreement over the issue of slavery, there was also disagreement over whether a slave should be allowed to hold a patent. Some people said anyone who came up with an original idea should be allowed to patent it. It should not matter whether that person was free or a slave. Others said that, because he, a slave, was his or her master's property, anything that a slave produced, including ideas, belonged to the master as well.In 1857, however, a slave owner named Oscar Stewart applied for a patent on something one of his slaves had invented. Stewart argued that he owned all the results of his slave's labor, whether that work had been manual. Despite the laws, the Patent Office
Patent office
A patent office is a governmental or intergovernmental organization which controls the issue of patents. In other words, "patent offices are government bodies that may grant a patent or reject the patent application based on whether or not the application fulfils the requirements for...
agreed. The patent was granted, giving Stewart credit for the invention. The slave who actually came up with the idea (a cotton-processing device) is mentioned in the patent only as "Ned."
Because of the decision in the Stewart case, the patent law was changed to say that a slave could not hold a patent. When the Confederate States broke away from the United States in 1861, the Confederate government surprised many people by once again allowing slaves to hold patents. After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, however, the patent law was changed again, specifying that all people throughout the United States had the right to patent their own inventions.
Benjamin Bradley's date of death was unknown.
External links
- Benjamin Bradley from the Black Inventor's On-Line Museum