African-American Firsts: Science and Medicine
Thomas L. Jennings
First patent holder
1821, for a dry-cleaning process. Sarah E.
Sarah Goode
In 1885, became the first African-American woman to receive a patent, for a bed
that folded up into a cabinet.
James McCune Smith
First black to earn a M.D. degree1837, University of Glasgow
Rebecca Lee
Crumpler became the first black woman to receive an M.D. degree. She graduated from
the New England Female Medical College in 1864.
Dr. Charles Drew
Inventor of the blood bank1940.
Daniel Hale Williams
Heart surgery pioneer: Blood Bank Inventor 1893
Robert H. Lawrence, Jr.
First black astronaut astronaut:
in 1967, was the first black astronaut, but he died
in a plane crash during a training flight and never made it into space.
Guion Bluford
In 1983, became the first black astronaut to travel in space
Mae Jemison
First black female astronaut
In 1992, She became the first black female astronaut.
Frederick D. Gregory,
In 1998, was the first black American
shuttle commander.