Thomas L. Jennings was the first black man to receive a patent. The patent was awarded on March 3, 1821 (US Patent 3306x) for his discovery of a process called dry scouring which was the forerunner of today’s modern dry-cleaning.  Jennings was born free in New York City, New York in 1791. In his early […]

THOMAS L. JENNINGS (1791- 1856)