Life of Cyrus McCormick

By The Couchster

  • Birth

    Born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

  • First demonstration

    showed off prototype mechanical reaping in Steeles Tavern, Virginia

  • Granted a Patent

  • Sales

    He starts getting customers for his reaper

  • Reaper improvements patent

  • Factory comission

    McCormick gets a factory to make his mechanical reaper, as well as a few others, but the other factories's quality sucks

  • Move to Chicago

    McCormick moves his base of operations, and gets a factory in Chicago

  • Patent renewal

    McCormick went in to renew his patent at the patent office, but was declined, as a similar machine was patented months earlier by Obed Hussey.

  • Joining forces

    McCormick's brother joins the company in Chicago to help with financials.

  • Patent Infringement Battle

    McCormick had a court battle against John Manny, with McCormick hiring Reverdy Johnson, Edward Dickerson, and Abraham Lincoln. McCormick lost, also losing his patent extension.

  • Death

    He died in his home in Chicago