Cyrus McCormick

Date of Birth: February 15, 1809

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: May 13, 1884

Biography

Cyrus Hall McCormick was an American inventor and businessman who founded the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which later became part of the International Harvester Company. Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, McCormick was the eldest of eight children. He is best known for inventing the mechanical reaper, a significant advancement in agriculture that revolutionized farming by making the harvesting of crops more efficient. McCormick’s invention greatly boosted agricultural productivity and contributed to the industrialization of farming. McCormick’s mechanical reaper was first successfully demonstrated in 1831, but it took several years of refinement and marketing before it became a commercial success. By 1847, McCormick moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he established a factory to produce his reapers on a larger scale. His business acumen and innovative sales strategies, including installment purchasing and extensive advertising, helped his company grow rapidly. McCormick was also a philanthropist, donating to various causes, including education and religious institutions. He was a devout Presbyterian and supported the establishment of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Cyrus McCormick passed away on May 13, 1884, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship that had a lasting impact on American agriculture and industry.

5 Interesting Facts about Cyrus McCormick

1. Cyrus McCormick’s mechanical reaper won a gold medal at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851.

2. McCormick’s invention significantly reduced the labor required to harvest wheat, allowing one man to do the work of several.

3. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1976 for his contributions to agricultural mechanization.

4. McCormick’s company was one of the first to adopt installment payment plans, making his reapers more accessible to farmers.

5. Cyrus McCormick married Nancy Fowler McCormick in 1858, and together they had seven children.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Cyrus McCormick

1. “The reaper is a machine that saves labor and increases productivity.”

2. “My aim is to make farming easier and more profitable for the hardworking farmer.”

3. “Innovation and perseverance are the keys to success.”

4. “A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands, his brain, and his heart is an artist.”

5. “The mechanical reaper will do more for the cause of agriculture than any other invention of the age.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the time of his death in 1884, Cyrus McCormick’s net worth was estimated to be approximately $11 million, equivalent to around $300 million today.

Children

Cyrus McCormick and his wife, Nancy Fowler McCormick, had seven children: 1. Cyrus Hall McCormick Jr. (1859-1936) – who succeeded his father in managing the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. 2. Mary Virginia McCormick (1861-1941) 3. Robert Hall McCormick (1863-1910) 4. Anita McCormick Blaine (1866-1954) 5. Alice McCormick (1870-1871) 6. Harold Fowler McCormick (1872-1941) 7. Stanley Robert McCormick (1874-1947)