John Edson Sweet (
Pompey, New York, October 21, 1832 –
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. With a population of 148,620 and a Syracuse metropolitan area, metropolitan area of 662,057, it is the fifth-most populated city and 13 ...
, May 8, 1916) was an American
mechanical engineer
Mechanical may refer to:
Machine
* Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement
* Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations o ...
, inventor, professor, businessman and president of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing edu ...
from 1884–1885. He is known for building the first
micrometer caliper in 1873, for making tools, and for inventing the "straight line" engine.
Biography
Born in
Pompey, New York in 1832, Sweet got only some schooling at the district school. He started working young as a farm hand, became a carpenter's apprentice, and settled as architect and builder in the South.
At the outbreak of the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
in 1861 he returned to the North.
From 1862 to 1864 Sweet worked as mechanical draftsman in England, and upon his return to the States was engaged in bridge building and invented several things. At the
Paris Exhibition of 1867 he introduced a
linotype machine
The Linotype machine ( ) is a "line casting" machine used in printing which is manufactured and sold by the former Mergenthaler Linotype Company and related It was a hot metal typesetting system that cast lines of metal type for one-time use. Li ...
.
From 1873 to 1878 he was professor of practical mechanics at the
Sibley College of Mechanic Arts of
Cornell University
Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
, which he also headed.
Afterwards he was founding president of straight line engine works. At the
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair, was a world's fair held in Chicago from May 5 to October 31, 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The ...
in 1893 he was expert for the government, and one of the jurors on machine tools.
In 1880 Sweet was a key founder of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing edu ...
(ASME), and its third president in the year 1884–1885. In 1914 the ASME awarded him the John Fritz Medal "for his achievements in machine design, and for his pioneer work in applying sound engineering principles to the construction and development of the high-speed steam engine." In 1914 he also received the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering from
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...
.
In 1894, Sweet admitted that his relatives had carved the
Pompey stone as a hoax.
Publications
*
*
;Patents, a selection
[For more patents, see ]
here
'
*
Patent US 121261, Improvement in the manufacture of guards for harvesting-machines'' 1871
*
Patent US 261967, tool post for lathe'' 1881
*
Patent US 532296, steam and water separator'' 1884–85
*
Patent US 624575, Steam-separator'' 1896–98
*
Patent US 682507, Changeable-speed gearing'' 1899–1901
References
*
Further reading
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweet, John Edson
1832 births
1916 deaths
American mechanical engineers
Presidents of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
John Fritz Medal recipients