Theophilus Van Kannel was an American inventor, famous for inventing the revolving door

Revolving door

A revolving door typically consists of three or four doors that hang on a center shaft and rotate around a vertical axis within a cylindrical enclosure. Revolving doors are energy efficient as they prevent drafts, thus preventing increases in the heating or cooling required for the building...

, patented on August 7, 1888. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, USA. Van Kannel, who was recognized for his invention with an award from the Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...

, founded the Van Kannel Revolving Door Company, which eventually was bought out by the International Steel Company

International Steel Company

International Steel Company was a steel company in Evansville, Indiana that created the Landing Ship, Tank warships for World War II. There are historical tours of the in dock on the Ohio River in Evansville. The current remaining division of International Steel Co. is called International...

 in 1907. International Steel Company is the parent company of International Revolving Door Company.
Theophilus had no family. He was awarded the John Scott Medal by Philadelphia for the usefulness in inventing the Revolving Door.

He invented and owned Witching Waves

Witching Waves

Witching Waves is an amusement ride.It was first introduced at Luna Park on Coney Island, New York, USA, in 1907.It was one of the most popular rides at Luna Park, invented by Theophilus Van Kannel, who also invented the revolving door....

, an amusement ride

Amusement ride

Amusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...

 introduced at Luna Park

Luna Park, Coney Island

Luna Park was an amusement park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City from 1903 to 1944. A second Luna Park was opened on the former site of the nearby Astroland amusement park...

, Coney Island

Coney Island

Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....

, in 1907.

Van Kannel died in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 of heart failure and was buried in West Park Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

.

He was awarded the John Scott Medal of The Franklin Institute in 1889.