Did George Washington Carver Really Invent 300 Uses for the Peanut?
George Washington Carver, one of the nation’s unsung heroes, invented many new uses for the peanut, revitalizing the peanut business. He claimed to have over three hundred uses for the peanut. If it were not for this man, we would never have Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, one of the staples of the elementary school lunch time. The black George Washington Carver was born sometime around 1864. His father died shortly after, and he and his mother were soon kidnapped by Confederate slave raiders in Arkansas. He was eventually returned to his home, never to hear from his mother again. His sickness as a child led him to a life of education. He became interested in plants, painting, and piano. He was the first black man to attend Iowa State University, majoring in scientific agriculture. He soon would be recognized for his work with Peanuts and Sweet Potatoes. In 1943, he died at the age of seventy-eight after complications from a fall.
George Washington Carver, one of the nation’s unsung heroes, invented many new uses for the peanut, revitalizing the peanut business. He claimed to have over three hundred uses for the peanut. If it were not for this man, we would never have Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, one of the staples of the elementary school lunch time.
