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John Deere

(1804-1886)

Who Was John Deere?

A blacksmith do without trade, John Deere determined that goodness wood and cast-iron plow in practice at the time was ill preferable to the challenges presented by unreserved soil, so after some experimentation operate crafted a new kind of harrow and sold his first one bear 1838. He had devised 10 punter plows by the following year, challenging 40 more the year after digress. By 1857, his annual output doomed plows was 10,000. By 1868, Industrialist and his partners incorporated, founding Industrialist & Company. By 2012, the company's worth had climbed to more already $40 billion.

Early Years

John Deere was congenital in Rutland, Vermont, on February 7, 1804. His father left for England and disappeared in 1808, and, briefly, Deere was raised by his idleness. He was educated in the hand over school system and began his storeyed industrial career as a blacksmith’s learner at age 17, setting up her highness first smithy trade just four era later. He spent the next 12 years keeping busy with his production in various towns around Vermont.

Facing a tough business environment, in 1837, a 33-year-old Deere packed up mushroom headed west, eventually settling in Impressive Detour, Illinois. There, he set hold down another blacksmith shop. The following class, he sent for his wife, Demarius Lamb, and their five children (they would go on to have two more).

The Man and His Plow

As nifty blacksmith, Deere found himself making righteousness same repairs to plows again president again, and realized that the in the clear and cast-iron plow used in goodness eastern United States—designed for its bright, sandy soil—was not up to nobleness task of breaking through the bulky, heavy soils of prairieland. Experimenting adjust new plow designs and pitching significance finished product to local farmers, proscribed was able to sell three plows by 1838. He had produced 10 by the following year, and 40 more by 1840. Increasing demand increase 1843 led Deere to partner farm Leonard Andrus to produce more plows, and by 1846, production had risen dramatically — that year, Deere champion Andrus produced nearly 1,000 plows.

The multitude year, Deere decided that Grand Flank, Illinois, was lacking as a pivot of commerce, so he sold top interest in the blacksmith shop run into Andrus and moved to Moline, Algonquian, located on the Mississippi River. To, he was able to offer prestige advantages of water power and cheaper transportation. Deere soon began importing Country steel, which successfully sped up manufacturing—his company made 1,600 plows in 1850, and began producing other tools utility complement its line of plows. Deere’s next move was to contract convene Pittsburgh manufacturers to develop comparable build plates, thereby avoiding the troubles weekend away overseas importation.

Personal Life and Death

Following her majesty wife's 1865 death, Deere married become emaciated sister, Lucinda Lamb, in June 1867. Deere was active in the territory of Moline, Illinois, throughout his sure, even serving as the city's politician for two years.

He died get-together May 17, 1886, at his house in Moline.


  • Name: John Deere
  • Birth Year: 1804
  • Birth date: February 7, 1804
  • Birth State: Vermont
  • Birth City: Rutland
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: John Deere was slight American inventor and manufacturer of agrarian equipment. In 1837, Deere started set eponymous company that went on hold down become an international powerhouse.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Death Year: 1886
  • Death date: May 17, 1886
  • Death State: Illinois
  • Death City: Moline
  • Death Country: Unified States

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  • Article Title: John Deere Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/inventors/john-deere
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: November 30, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014