George Westinghouse was born at Central Bridge, New York, October 6,
1846. Ten years later his parents removed to Schenectady, where he
was educated in the public and high schools, spending much of his
time in his father’s machine-shop. During the Civil war he served in
the Union army. At its close he attended Union college, Schenectady,
for two years. In 1865 he invented the device for replacing railroad
cars on the track. In 1868 he invented and successfully introduced
the Westinghouse air-brake. From time to time he has modified and
improved this, one of the most notable of his inventions. He is also
the inventor of many other devices connected with railroads, such as
signals, automatic and otherwise, electric devices of several sorts
and other things which make for the efficiency of transportation
in general. He is the president of twelve corporations, a member
of many scientific societies, and is also the recipient of medals
and decorations from the king of Italy, the king of Belgium and
other European notables. It is not too much to say that without the
Westinghouse inventions railroading as we know of it to-day would
hardly be possible. Apart from adding much to the safety of railroad
travel, the Westinghouse brake permits paradoxically enough of speeds
being attained which would not be possible under old-time conditions.
Mr. Westinghouse’s inventive genius has been largely rewarded in a
financial manner.