Day: January 21, 2026

American agricultural scientist and inventor George Washington Carver (c. 1864–January 5, 1943) advocated for soil depletion prevention techniques and crops other than cotton. He was among the most well-known African American scientists in the early 20th century. George Washington created methods to replenish soil types depleted by frequent cotton plantings while he was a professor at the Tuskegee Institute. In order to raise their standard of living and provide their own food, he encouraged impoverished farmers to cultivate additional crops like sweet potatoes and peanuts. Under his direction, the Experiment…