OR

wikipedia.org
18 May, 1838
07 May, 1918
Unknown
American
Barber
79
Alexander Miles, born on May 18, 1838, in Pickaway County, Ohio, became one of the prominent African American inventors and entrepreneurs of the late 19th century. The journey of how he developed from a rustic life to emerging as a renowned figure in innovations of public safety and as an entrepreneur is inspiring and characteristic of perseverance in the face of racism at those times. Little is recorded about Miles's early life, but he is known to have moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, during the late 1850s. There, he honed his skills as a barber, a trade that he would pursue in other places. In 1863, he traveled to Winona, Minnesota, where he continued to practice his craft. It was there that he married Candace J. Dunlap, a white widow who was born in New York. The two were married and, in 1876, bore their daughter, Grace.
Alexander Miles later settled in Duluth, Minnesota, where his entrepreneurship was realized. He started a barbershop that gained a huge following, catering to a multicultural group of clients. Miles was a clever businessman by developing a line of hair care products, which he sold in addition to his barbershop business. His thriftiness also extended to real estate investments, further establishing himself as a prosperous businessman.
One of the serious accidents that happened to Miles was when he observed the dangers involved with manually operated elevator doors in 1887. It was then that users or operators of elevators used to open and close both car and shaft doors manually. Negligence or inattention habitually caused the doors to be left ajar, permitting fatal occurrences, e.g., people falling into open shafts. Motivated by the vision of increased public safety, Miles invented an apparatus that would open both sets of doors automatically. This effectively minimized the risk of such tragedies. On October 11, 1887, he was granted U.S. Patent 371,207 for his invention, a milestone in elevator safety technology.
During the late 1880s, the Miles family migrated to Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, Alexander established The United Brotherhood, which was a life insurance firm specializing in African American customers, usually excluded by major insurers. During 1900, the family had settled in Seattle, Washington, where Miles worked as a barber and remained engaged in enterprise. His achievement in Seattle was unmatched, where he emerged as one of the wealthiest Black businessmen in the city, shattering racial barriers and challenging the norms of the time.
Alexander Miles died on May 7, 1918. His work lives on, especially his work in elevator safety. Contemporary elevators with automatic doors are a debt to Miles, and his work has certainly saved many lives. Aside from inventions, the life of Miles is a testament to the strength of innovation, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit even in the midst of social adversity. As recognition of his contribution, Alexander Miles was inducted posthumously into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007, and his legacy continues to motivate successive generations.
Alexander Miles
Alexander Miles
Male
Unknown
Pickaway County, Ohio, USA
Seattle, Washington, USA
Virtuoso: Bold and practical experimenters, masters of all kinds of tools. He was known for mechanical aptitude, independence, and resourcefulness.
He lived in a prominent Duluth building named the "Miles Block."
He was one of the wealthiest African Americans in Duluth during his time.
His daughter, Grace, was born in 1876 and inspired his safety-focused invention.
Miles moved to Duluth after the Civil War and prospered there.
Became the first African-American member of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce.
Built a successful real estate and barber business in Duluth.
Patented an automatic elevator door mechanism (U.S. Patent No. 371,207) in 1887.
Recognized posthumously by the National Inventors Hall of Fame (inducted 2007).