John Deere
American blacksmith and manufacturer (1804–1886)
John Deere (February 7, 1804 – May 17, 1886) was an American blacksmith, businessman, inventor and politician. He founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction-equipment manufacturers in the world.2
From Wikipedia’s article on John Deere (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born Feb 7, 1804, died May 17, 1886.1
About
Born in Rutland, Vermont, Deere moved to Illinois and invented the first commercially successful steel plow in 1837.
From Wikipedia’s article on John Deere, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2
Companies
- Deere & CompanyFounder11
- Grand Detour Plow CompanyFounder12
Early life and education
- Date not recordedMiddlebury College3
John Deere was born on February 7, 1804, in Rutland, Vermont. After a brief educational period at Middlebury College, at age 17 in 1821, he began an apprenticeship with Captain Benjamin Lawrence, a successful Middlebury blacksmith, and entered the trade for himself in 1826.
From Wikipedia’s article on John Deere (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career
Occupation: politician, inventor, manufacturer, businessperson, factory owner.6
- Date not recordedFounded Grand Detour Plow Company4
- Date not recordedFounded Deere & Company5
Personal life
He married Demarius Lamb in 1827 and fathered nine children:
Francis Albert Deere (1828–1848)
Jeannette Deere Chapman (1830–1916)
Ellen Sarah Deere Webber (1832–1898)
Frances Alma Deere (1834–1851)
Charles Henry Deere (1837–1907)
Emma Charlotte Deere Velie (1840–1911)
Hiram Alvin Deere (1842–1844)
Alice Maria Deere Cady (1844–1900)
Mary Frances Deere (1851–1852)
Their daughter Alice Maria married Merton Yale Cady, grandson of Linus Yale Sr. of the Yale Lock Company, and was the proprietor of Alderney Hill Farm, formerly Mr. John Deere's blooded-stock farm. They were the grandparents of Jane Mabel Skinner, wife of Warren Crandall Giles, president of the National League and Cincinnati Reds, and parents of William Yale Giles, co-proprietor of the Philadelphia Phillies.
From Wikipedia’s article on John Deere (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awards
- 1989National Inventors Hall of Fame10
In the news
2 recent articles from 2 outlets we read name John Deere. We match the full name, and check the article also names one of their companies or that they are well known.
- John Deere announces $13M to Iowa food banks, farm to plate supportIowa Capital Dispatch, Oct 13, 2026John Deere announces $13M to Iowa food banks, farm to plate support
- John Deere commits $18.5M to fight hunger and back farmersKCCI, Oct 13, 2026…John Deere commits $18.5 million to efforts to fight hunger, support farmers John Deere commits $18.5 million to efforts to fight hunger, support farmers The John Deere Foundation is committing $18.5 million over three years to help Feeding…
Links
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataJohn Deere on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaJohn Deere on Wikipedia
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- 10WikidataJohn Deere: award, on Wikidata
- 11WikidataDeere & Company, Founder
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