On this day, April 8th, inventor history marks several significant events:​ 1766 – First Fire Escape Patented On April 8, 1766, the first fire escape was patented. This early design featured a wicker basket attached to a pulley and chain system, allowing individuals to be lowered safely from burning buildings. This invention laid the groundwork for modern fire safety equipment. ​ 1861 – Death of Elisha Otis, Elevator Safety Pioneer Elisha Graves Otis, who revolutionized vertical transportation with his invention of the automatic safety brake for elevators, passed away on April 8, 1861. His innovation made high-rise buildings practical by preventing elevator cars from falling if the hoisting cable failed. ​ 1905 – Death of Sarah E. Goode, Trailblazing Inventor Sarah Elisabeth Goode, one of the first African American women to receive a U.S. patent, died on April 8, 1905. In 1885, she patented a folding cabinet bed, an innovative solution for space-saving furniture in small urban apartments. ​ 1911 – Discovery of Superconductivity by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes On April 8, 1911, Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered superconductivity. While studying the electrical properties of mercury at cryogenic temperatures, he observed that its electrical resistance abruptly disappeared at approximately 4.2 Kelvin (-268.95°C). This groundbreaking discovery has had profound implications for physics and engineering. ​ 1959 – Inception of COBOL Programming Language On April 8, 1959, a team of computer manufacturers, users, and university personnel, led by Grace Hopper, convened to discuss the creation of a new programming language. This meeting laid the foundation for COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language), which became one of the most widely used programming languages in business applications. ​ These events highlight the innovative spirit and contributions of inventors and scientists throughout history on April 8th.

Posted by InventorsInHistory at 2025-04-08 19:42:02 UTC