28 October -Eli Whitney, applied for a patent on the Cotton Gin

 

Eli Whitney, an American inventor and engineer, applied for a patent on the cotton gin on October 28, 1793. The cotton gin, short for "cotton engine," was a revolutionary invention that greatly simplified the process of separating cotton fibers from their seeds. Prior to the cotton gin, this task was extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming, making it a major bottleneck in the production of cotton.

Whitney's cotton gin used a series of wire teeth on a rotating drum to grab and remove the seeds from the cotton fibers. This invention dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton processing, making it a key factor in the expansion of cotton production and the cotton industry in the American South. Unfortunately, Whitney faced challenges in protecting his patent, and despite its transformative impact on the cotton industry, he struggled to profit significantly from his invention. Nonetheless, the cotton gin played a significant role in the history of American agriculture and had far-reaching economic and social consequences, particularly related to the expansion of cotton farming and slavery in the Southern United States.