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Is Philip B Downing black?
Downing (1857-1934) was an African-American inventor from Newport, Rhode Island, best known for his patent on the modern day letter box.
Who invented the mailbox?
Philip Downing
Philip Downing, inventor of the mailbox In 1891, Downing patented a device he called a “street letter box.” It would protect mail from theft and poor weather conditions and expand the postal system, allowing people to mail letters without having to walk to the post office.
When did Philip B Downing invent the mailbox?
October 27, 1891
In 1891, anyone interested in mailing a letter would have to make the long trip to the post office. Philip B. Downing designed a metal box with four legs which he patented on October 27, 1891. He called his device a street letter box and it is the predecessor of today’s mailbox.
Why the post box is red?
In early Victorian era the color of post box was Green in Britain. Then during the mid 19th century it was changed to Red. So with the Britishers the color of post box also came to its colonies like India, Australia, etc.
Who invented the ironing board?
Sarah Boone
Improved Ironing Board, Invented by Sarah Boone in 1892 One of the first Black women in U.S. history to receive a patent, she expanded upon the original ironing board, which was essentially a horizontal wooden block originally patented in 1858.
Where did Philip Downing invent the mailbox?
He established the Downing’s Oyster House in the district of Manhattan in 1825 which became one of the city’s best-known dining and catering establishments. At the time, to mail a letter one needs to go all the way to the post office but thanks to Downing, such longs trips are now a thing of the past.
Who are the parents of Philip B Downing?
His father, George T. Downing, was a well-known abolitionist and business owner, while his mother, Serena L. deGrasse, had family roots in New York City, New York dating back to the mid-1600s. Philip Downing’s grandfather, Thomas Downing, had been born to emancipated parents in Virginia.
Who was Thomas Downing and what did he do?
In addition, Thomas Downing played an important role in founding the United Anti-Slavery Society of the City of New York in the mid-1830s. One of six children, Philip Downing spent his childhood in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island, as well as in Washington, D.C., where his father was manager of the U.S. House of Representatives’ dining room.
What was Philip B Downing’s most important invention?
Among his most significant inventions were a street letter box (U.S. Patent numbers 462,092 and 462,093) and a mechanical device for operating street railway switches (U.S. Patent number 430,118). Downing also enjoyed a long career as a clerk with the Custom House in Boston, Massachusetts, retiring in 1927 after more than thirty years of service.
When did Philip Downing retire from Custom House?
Misty Brown, “Ever Wonder,” Afro-American February 6, 1988; Eyvaine Walker, Keeping a Family Legacy Alive: Unforgotten African Americans (Atlanta, GA: Twins Pub, 2011), 316 – 317. “Philip Downing, Boston, Retires After 31 Years Service in Custom House,” The New York Age, April 9, 1927.