Mary Anderson (inventor)

Mary Anderson
Born	Template:Birth date Greene County, Alabama, U.S.
Died	June 27, 1953(1953-06-27) (aged 87) Monteagle, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, inventor, ranch owner, grape cultivator
Known for	Inventor of the windshield wiper

Mary Elizabeth Anderson (February 19, 1866 – June 27, 1953) was an American entrepreneur in real estate, a ranch owner, a grape cultivator, and the inventor behind the windshield wiper. On November 10, 1903, she received a patent for a self-operating device designed to clean automobile windows from inside the vehicle.

Early life

Born in 1866 at Burton Hill Plantation in Greene County, Alabama, Anderson was the daughter of John C. and Rebecca Anderson. Following her father's passing in 1870, the family sustained themselves through income generated by his estate. In 1889, she relocated with her mother and sister—both widowed—to Birmingham, Alabama. Anderson remained single and did not have children.

While in Birmingham, she engaged in real estate development, notably constructing the Fairmont Apartments on Highland Avenue. By 1893, she had moved to Fresno, California, where she managed a cattle ranch and vineyard. She returned to Birmingham in 1898 to care for an unwell aunt; thereafter, her family lived comfortably due to the aunt’s valuable collection of gold and jewelry.

Invention (windshield wipers)

In 1903, Anderson introduced a significant advancement in automotive safety with her invention of the windshield wiper—addressing a long-standing issue of obstructed driver visibility caused by rain or snow accumulation on windshields. During a winter journey from Alabama to New York City, she noticed a trolley operator manually clearing sleet from his windshield by reaching out through an open window. Identifying a commercial opportunity, she devised a lever-controlled squeegee blade operated from within the vehicle.

Her invention was patented under U.S. Patent No. 743,801 in 1903 as a “window cleaning device for electric cars and other vehicles to remove snow, ice, or sleet from the window.” The mechanism consisted of a spring-loaded arm equipped with a rubber blade actuated by an internal lever and balanced by a counterweight to maintain steady contact with the glass surface. Unlike subsequent versions, her device was designed to be detachable after winter use.

At the time she filed for her patent, automobiles were not yet common—Henry Ford’s Model A had yet to be released—and manufacturers initially undervalued her invention’s commercial potential. Efforts to sell the rights in 1905 were unsuccessful due to concerns that operating the wiper could distract drivers. Despite initial resistance, windshield wipers became standard equipment by 1916 as car production surged; Cadillac was the first automaker to include them as standard features in 1922.

Anderson did not receive financial gain from her creation and often saw men credited for similar innovations. Her patent expired in 1920 without yielding personal commercial success. Analysts attribute this outcome partly to gender biases and her independent status limiting business prospects during that era.

In 1917, Charlotte Bridgewood secured a patent for an “electric storm windshield cleaner,” an early automatic wiper utilizing rollers rather than blades; however, like Anderson, she did not profit from this invention.

Anderson’s design established the basis for modern windshield wipers—still relying on her original concept of an interior lever-operated squeegee—making a lasting impact on vehicle safety and engineering.

Later life

During the 1920s, Anderson resided in Birmingham's Fairmont Apartments alongside her mother and sister Fannie, maintaining oversight of the property until she passed away at the age of 87. At that period, she held the distinction of being the eldest member of South Highland Presbyterian Church. Anderson died at her seasonal residence in Monteagle, Tennessee and was interred at Elmwood Cemetery. The funeral service was led by Dr. Frank A. Mathes at South Highland.

Legacy

Anderson was honored with induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011. Although her contributions had received limited attention prior to this, her profile underscores her entrepreneurial drive and determination. Rini Paiva, serving as executive vice president of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, remarked, "She demonstrated persistence, innovative thinking, and a strong commitment to developing her ideas."

External links

• Famous Women Inventors