Benjamin Bradley (sometimes referred to as Borley), the 19th-Century Engineer:
- Born into slavery in Maryland in 1830, Benjamin Bradley was a self-taught engineer who, at the age of 16, constructed a functional steam engine using materials like a gun barrel, pewter, and steel. His talents led him to work at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he assisted in scientific experiments. In the 1850s, he developed a steam engine powerful enough to propel a warship’s cutter faster than most ships of that era. Due to laws prohibiting enslaved individuals from holding patents, he was unable to secure recognition for his inventions. Bradley sold his engine and, combined with additional earnings, purchased his freedom for approximately $1,000 in 1859. He later became an instructor in the philosophical department at the Naval Academy.
