Early Life and Career

Alexander Miles, born on May 18, 1838, in Pickaway County, Ohio, became one of the prominent African American inventors and entrepreneurs of the late 19th century. The journey of how he developed from a rustic life to emerging as a renowned figure in innovations of public safety and as an entrepreneur is inspiring and characteristic of perseverance in the face of racism at those times. Little is recorded about Miles's early life, but he is known to have moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, during the late 1850s. There, he honed his skills as a barber, a trade that he would pursue in other places. In 1863, he traveled to Winona, Minnesota, where he continued to practice his craft. It was there that he married Candace J. Dunlap, a white widow who was born in New York. The two were married and, in 1876, bore their daughter, Grace.

Entrepreneurial Business in Duluth

Alexander Miles later settled in Duluth, Minnesota, where his entrepreneurship was realized. He started a barbershop that gained a huge following, catering to a multicultural group of clients. Miles was a clever businessman by developing a line of hair care products, which he sold in addition to his barbershop business. His thriftiness also extended to real estate investments, further establishing himself as a prosperous businessman.

Innovation in Elevator Safety

One of the serious accidents that happened to Miles was when he observed the dangers involved with manually operated elevator doors in 1887. It was then that users or operators of elevators used to open and close both car and shaft doors manually. Negligence or inattention habitually caused the doors to be left ajar, permitting fatal occurrences, e.g., people falling into open shafts. Motivated by the vision of increased public safety, Miles invented an apparatus that would open both sets of doors automatically. This effectively minimized the risk of such tragedies. On October 11, 1887, he was granted U.S. Patent 371,207 for his invention, a milestone in elevator safety technology.

Later Life and Legacy

During the late 1880s, the Miles family migrated to Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, Alexander established The United Brotherhood, which was a life insurance firm specializing in African American customers, usually excluded by major insurers. During 1900, the family had settled in Seattle, Washington, where Miles worked as a barber and remained engaged in enterprise. His achievement in Seattle was unmatched, where he emerged as one of the wealthiest Black businessmen in the city, shattering racial barriers and challenging the norms of the time.

Final years and legacy

Alexander Miles died on May 7, 1918. His work lives on, especially his work in elevator safety. Contemporary elevators with automatic doors are a debt to Miles, and his work has certainly saved many lives. Aside from inventions, the life of Miles is a testament to the strength of innovation, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit even in the midst of social adversity. As recognition of his contribution, Alexander Miles was inducted posthumously into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007, and his legacy continues to motivate successive generations.