Elijah McCoy

Elijah McCoy was a 19th-century African American inventor and engineer, best known for his work on lubrication systems for steam engines. Born in 1844 in Canada to escaped slaves, he later moved to the United States. McCoy invented a method that allowed locomotives to be oiled while running, significantly improving efficiency and reducing downtime. His inventions helped advance the railroad industry. The phrase “the real McCoy” is often attributed to him, meaning something genuine or of high quality, which symbolizes the respect people had for his innovative designs and their effectiveness.