Science

George Washington Carver

Born into slavery and kidnapped as an infant; became the most famous Black scientist of his era.

Born: 1864 · Diamond, Missouri, US (born into slavery; exact date unknown)
Roots: Black American; born enslaved
Family: Poverty; His enslaved mother was kidnapped by raiders with the infant George; only he was ransomed back, reportedly for a horse. He never found her, and was raised by the Carvers after emancipation.
Education: A 10-mile walk to a Black school in Neosho → Simpson College → Iowa State
Started with: A walk to school; No school in his county admitted Black children; at about 11 he walked to Neosho and lodged with a Black family to attend one.
Affiliations & societies: None documented.; Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

1877 · age 12
Leaves home for school
Years of moving through Kansas for education follow; one college accepts him by mail, then turns him away on sight.
1890 · age 25
Simpson College
Enrolls in art; his teacher, seeing his plant drawings, points him to botany at Iowa State.
1894 · age 29
Iowa State
The college's first Black student becomes its first Black faculty member.
1896 · age 31
Tuskegee
Booker T. Washington's invitation; he stays 47 years teaching poor farmers crop rotation.
1921 · age 56
Congress
Given ten minutes to speak on peanuts before a hostile committee; they extend his time repeatedly and applaud.
1943 · age 78
Dies at Tuskegee
His birthplace becomes the first US national monument honoring a Black American.

Sources

Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.