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June 15, 1844: The Man Who Invented Everything Rubber and Died Broke
Description
On June 3, 2025, three Goodyear Blimps flew over Akron, Ohio simultaneously to celebrate one hundred years of one of the most recognized brand names in the world.
The man that name belongs to died in a New York hotel room in 1860 owing $200,000, never worked for the company, and had been dead for thirty-eight years when it was founded. Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanization by accident on a hot stove in 1839, spent five years perfecting the process, and received United States Patent number 3,633 on June 15, 1844.
He spent the rest of his life watching others profit from what he had built while legal battles and debt consumed everything he made. The gap between inventing something and owning something turned out to be the size of an entire life.
From bsnsHistory, the daily podcast about the moments when business quietly reshaped the world.
Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.
For more daily business stories, visit www.bsnsDAILYpodcasts.com