Charles Goodyear - Research Paper Example

In truth, his story is an inspirational application of scientific principles to economic reality, with Goodyear’s frequent and often futile attempts to secure capital to apply his ideas to abundance in everyday life. However, only after his death would rubber become an everyday product and a massive industry of production. In 1898, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company took Goodyear’s name in commemoration of his achievement. Thus, even though Goodyear never applied his invention to the mass market as other great inventors did in 19th century America, it is still fair to say that Goodyear lived the American dream of experimenting with science to better mankind.

Goodyear was born in New Haven, Connecticut on December 29, 1800 to a well-respected, upper-class family. In 1814, the teenage Goodyear left for Philadelphia to learn about industry; returning in 1821, Goodyear entered into a partnership in his father’s business producing various metal-based products. Three years later, Goodyear married Clarissa Beecher and together they moved to Philadelphia where Goodyear, having left his father’s business, opened a general hardware store. He sold agricultural products imported from England.

Within a few years, his business was thriving, and by 1829, he had amassed quite a bit of wealth. In 1829, however, his health declined due to a case of dyspepsia, a disease that attacks the digestive system and causes chronic pain in the upper abdomen. Around this time, his business failed as well; eventually, he was forced to close a number of stores. After his health returned, Goodyear undertook a project that would form the basis of his life’s work: the vulcanization process of rubber (Peirce).

In 1831, Goodyear began researching gum elastic. He experimented with the best method to make rubber; he produced tubes to show to the Roxbury Rubber