Ellen Eglin was born in Washington, D.C., around 1849. Details surrounding her early life are scarce due to the limitations in record-keeping for African Americans during that period. However, it's known that she experienced the hardships and segregation prevalent in the pre-Civil War era, facing racial discrimination in access to education and opportunities.

While specific details are lacking, anecdotal evidence suggests that Eglin displayed inventive and mechanical abilities from a young age. She had the opportunity for some education, which was relatively rare for African Americans at the time, though the level and extent are not clearly known. This foundation, however, was critical to developing her skills and empowering her entrepreneurial spirit.

Like many African American women of her time, Eglin worked as a domestic servant. This experience, while providing meager income, likely exposed her to various household challenges and the need for practical solutions, indirectly inspiring her inventive ideas.

Eglin is credited with inventing a greatly improved clothes wringer. This device dramatically simplified the process of drying clothes, a time-consuming and physically demanding chore, especially for domestic workers like herself. This was her most notable, and first, recorded invention.

Unfortunately, due to concerns about racial discrimination and a perceived inability to market and sell her invention effectively as a Black woman, Eglin sold the rights to her clothes wringer for a mere $18. She reportedly stated that she preferred to sell the rights cheaply to allow a white person to manufacture and promote it, thereby ensuring its widespread adoption. This decision highlights the severe limitations imposed by racial prejudice on Black inventors and entrepreneurs during that era.

Undeterred by the experience of selling her wringer patent, Eglin continued to pursue her inventive interests. She worked as a sewing machine agent, gaining valuable experience in sales and marketing. It appears that she made several small inventions and repairs to objects around the house for the neighbors. She decided to market herself to the African-American community as the inventor of the clothes wringer, hoping it would inspire the black community.

Eglin's story began to gain attention as an example of the challenges faced by Black inventors. While details are limited, it is reported she became somewhat of an advocate for other black inventors. Her story was circulated in the African-American community, used as inspiration to encourage other inventors.

Details about Eglin's later life and the exact date and circumstances of her death are currently unknown, highlighting a significant gap in the historical record. Her story continues to inspire future generations of inventors. Despite the lack of concrete documentation, her contribution to the fields of science, engineering, and technology still lives on.