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.

Despite his engineering education, racial discrimination prevented McCoy from securing a position as an engineer. He instead took a job as a fireman and oiler for the Michigan Central Railroad. This role exposed him to the inefficiencies and dangers of manually lubricating moving parts in steam engines, which sparked his inventive genius to devise automated systems.

McCoy received his first patent for a drip cup lubricator, an innovative device designed to automatically drip oil onto moving parts of steam engines while they were in operation. This invention significantly reduced downtime, labor costs, and the risk of accidents, marking the beginning of his contributions to revolutionizing industrial machinery.

Over the next several decades, McCoy continued to refine his lubricating systems and develop new inventions. He received over 57 patents in the United States, covering a range of improvements to lubrication technology, including pressure regulators, and lubricators that worked with varying steam pressures. This prolific output solidified his reputation as a skilled and innovative engineer.

In 1920, at the age of 76, McCoy formed his own company, the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company, to manufacture and market his lubricators. This venture allowed him greater control over the production and distribution of his inventions, although it faced considerable challenges due to his advanced age and limited resources.

As McCoy aged, he experienced increasing health problems and financial difficulties. He suffered from injuries sustained in a car accident and struggled to maintain his company. These hardships marked a challenging period in his later life, contrasting sharply with his earlier success as an inventor.

Elijah McCoy died on October 10, 1929, in Eloise, Michigan, at the age of 85. He passed away in the Eloise Infirmary, a poorhouse, and was buried in Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery. Despite facing racial discrimination and financial hardships throughout his life, McCoy left behind a remarkable legacy of innovation and ingenuity.

After his death, McCoy's contributions to engineering were increasingly recognized. His inventions played a crucial role in the development of modern industrial machinery. While the exact origin is debated, the phrase "the real McCoy" has become synonymous with authenticity and high quality, a testament to the reliability and effectiveness of his products. He is now viewed as a pioneering African-American inventor and a significant figure in engineering history.