Thomas Midgley Jr.

Overview

Thomas Midgley Jr. was an American mechanical and chemical engineer whose inventions had a profound and ultimately devastating impact on the environment and public health. Best known for his work on leaded gasoline and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), he left a complicated legacy as a brilliant inventor whose creations, despite their initial benefits, caused widespread pollution and contributed significantly to ozone depletion and global warming. This timeline explores the key events in his life and career, highlighting the context and consequences of his work.

Main Milestones

Birth in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

May 18, 1889

Thomas Midgley Jr. was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, to Thomas Midgley Sr., an inventor, and Hattie L. Emerson. His father's background in invention likely influenced Midgley's own career path, fostering a passion for problem-solving and technological innovation from a young age.

Graduation from Cornell University

1911

Midgley graduated from Cornell University with a degree in mechanical engineering. This formal education provided him with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to tackle complex engineering challenges, setting the stage for his future inventions and contributions to the field of chemistry.

Joining the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO)

1916

Midgley began working for DELCO, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), where he was tasked with finding a solution to the problem of engine knocking. This issue was a major impediment to the development of more powerful and efficient internal combustion engines, and it presented a significant opportunity for innovation.

Discovery of Tetraethyllead (TEL) as an Anti-Knock Agent

1921

After extensive research and experimentation, Midgley discovered that tetraethyllead (TEL) was an incredibly effective anti-knock agent. Adding TEL to gasoline dramatically reduced engine knocking, allowing for higher compression ratios and more powerful engines. This discovery revolutionized the automotive industry, but its long-term health and environmental consequences were not yet understood.

Establishment of the Ethyl Corporation

1923

General Motors and Standard Oil established the Ethyl Corporation to produce and market TEL-infused gasoline. Despite growing concerns about the potential toxicity of lead, the corporation aggressively promoted Ethyl gasoline, and Midgley himself played a key role in defending its safety, even staging public demonstrations of his supposed resilience to lead poisoning. The lack of regulation and widespread adoption of leaded gasoline exposed millions to harmful levels of lead, leading to significant public health problems.

Assignment to Find a Non-Toxic Refrigerant

1930

Midgley was tasked with developing a new, non-toxic refrigerant to replace dangerous and flammable substances like ammonia, chloromethane, and sulfur dioxide used in early refrigerators. This assignment arose from a growing awareness of the dangers associated with existing refrigerants, motivating the search for safer alternatives.

Invention of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

1930

Midgley and his team synthesized dichlorodifluoromethane, the first chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). Marketed as Freon, CFCs were hailed as a revolutionary non-toxic and non-flammable refrigerant. They quickly became widely adopted in refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol propellants. However, the long-term effects of CFCs on the ozone layer were completely unknown at the time.

Contracting Polio

1940

Midgley contracted polio, which left him severely disabled. This event significantly impacted his quality of life and required him to adapt to new challenges.

Development of a Rope and Pulley System

1944

Due to his polio-induced disability, Midgley invented an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to help him get in and out of bed. This invention reflects his continued ingenuity and problem-solving skills, even in the face of personal adversity.

Death by Strangulation

November 2, 1944

Tragically, Midgley died by strangulation caused by his own invention. Whether this was accidental or intentional remains uncertain, but the circumstances surrounding his death underscore the complex ironies and unintended consequences that characterized his life and work. He was a brilliant inventor whose creations, intended to improve lives, ultimately contributed to significant environmental and public health crises.

Other Themed Timelines

Awards and Recognition Timeline

Early Life and Education Timeline

Ethical and Environmental Legacy Timeline

Freon (CFC) Development Timeline

Patent Timeline

Personal Life and Health Timeline

Professional Affiliations and Activities Timeline

Public Image and Controversies Timeline

Tetraethyllead (TEL) Development Timeline

Themed Timelines

Talks

Media Collections

Overview

Other Themed Timelines