Chapter XV
Reading edition
CHAPTER XV.
ELI WHITNEY.
The home of General Greene in Georgia—The soldier's widow—An arrival from New England—The young schoolmaster—A mechanical genius—Early history of Whitney—Mrs. Greene's invitation—Visit of the planters—State of the cotton culture in 1792—A despondent planter—Mrs. Greene advises them to try Whitney—Origin of the cotton gin—Whitney's first efforts—His workshop—The secret labors—How he provided himself with materials—Finds a partner—Betrayal of his secret—He is robbed of his model—He recovers it and completes it—The first cotton gin—Statement of the revolution produced by the invention in the cotton culture of the South—Opinion of Judge Johnson—The story of an inventor's wrongs—Whitney is cheated and robbed of his rights—The worthlessness of a patent—A long and disheartening struggle—Honorable action of North Carolina—Congress refuses to extend the patent—Whitney abandons the cotton gin—Engages in the manufacture of firearms—His improvements in them—Establishes an armory in Connecticut, and makes a fortune—Death.