Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, to George and Mildred McCoy, formerly enslaved people who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad. His birth in Canada granted him freedom from the horrors of slavery and allowed him to pursue an education and ultimately, a career in engineering, a stark contrast to the opportunities afforded to African Americans in the United States at the time.

At the age of 15, Elijah McCoy demonstrated remarkable aptitude and passion for mechanics. His parents recognized his talent and sent him to Edinburgh, Scotland, for an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering. This formal training provided him with the theoretical and practical knowledge that would lay the foundation for his future inventions.