Mary Elizabeth Anderson died on June 27, 1953, at her summer home in Monteagle, Tennessee, at the age of 87. Her death marked the end of the life of a pioneering inventor who, despite not achieving financial success during her lifetime, made a significant contribution to automotive safety and convenience.

On November 10, 1903, Mary Anderson was granted U.S. Patent No. 743,801 for her window cleaning device, which would later be known as the windshield wiper. This patent was a significant milestone in her journey as an inventor, providing her with legal protection for her innovative design.

Mary Anderson filed the patent application for her windshield wiper on June 18, 1903. This date marks the formal beginning of the patent process, signifying her commitment to protecting her invention and bringing it to the public.

Mary Elizabeth Anderson was born on February 19, 1866, at the Burton Hill Plantation in Greene County, Alabama. She was the daughter of John C. and Rebecca Anderson. This date marks the beginning of the life of the inventor of the windshield wiper.