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| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island
| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island
| death_date = June 8, 1934
| death_date = June 8, 1934
| death_place =Flagstaff, Arizona
| death_place = Boston, Massachusetts
| nationality = African American
| nationality = African American
| other_names =
| other_names =
| occupation = Inventor
| occupation = Inventor
| years_active = 69
| years_active = 77
| known_for = Improvements
| known_for = Improvements
of street letter box, and operating street railway switches.
of street letter box, and operating street railway switches.

Revision as of 12:57, 23 February 2024

Philip Bell Downing
BornMarch 22, 1857
Providence, Rhode Island
DiedJune 8, 1934
Boston, Massachusetts
NationalityAfrican American
OccupationInventor
Years active77
Known forImprovements of street letter box, and operating street railway switches.

Philip B. Downing (1857-1934) was an African American inventor from Providence, Rhode Island. He is best known for his two most significant inventions; the street letter box (though not the first street letter box patent), and operating street railway switches. Philip had a long career in Boston, Massachusetts as a postal clerk. Shortly after 1880, when Philip met and married Evangeline Howard, he had two children. He retired in 1927 after working for more than thirty years. In total, at least five patents were filed by Philip with the United States Patent Office. Around this time, census records indicate that Philip had moved to Boston, Massachusetts. [1] [2] [3] [4]

letter box

References

  1. ^ "Philip B. Downing (1857-1934) •". 31 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Philip Downing invented the modern-day letterbox". 2 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Philip Bell Downing". 16 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Little Known Black History Fact: Phillip Downing". 29 October 2019.