Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

There are three basic necessities needed in order for anyone to survive: food, shelter, and clothing. Eli Whitney, an American inventor and manufacturer, is a major contributor to the latter of these needs. Whitney, a man of great perseverance and a victim of unfortunate circumstances, is best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin. His invention, coupled with the development of the textile industry by Samuel Slater, led to a cotton revolution. Born on December 8, 1765, Eli Whitney spent his early years on his family’s farm in Westborough, Massachusetts (Britton 12). His mother died when he was twelve, so he took more responsibility on the farm with his three younger siblings and his father. Whitney had a special talent that was evident to his family and neighbors around him. He possessed a great understanding of mechanics and used it to his advantage. According to Karen Britton, Eli Whitney “once pretended to be ill so that he could stay home from church and take apart his father’s watch. Unlike most curious children, however, he was able to put it back together so that it ran perfectly” (12). He started working as a blacksmith, and made nails on a machine he had at home. One interesting fact is that E