Origins & Early Life

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. Born in Rutland, Vermont, Deere moved to Illinois and invented the first commercially successful steel plow in 1837. John Deere was born on February 7, 1804, in Rutland, Vermont.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

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. 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...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 8th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Died in 1804) (1804): Spiritual leader of Tibet, recognized as the 8th Dalai Lama.
• Aleksey Khomyakov — Contemporary (Born in 1804) (1804): Founding theoretician of the Slavophile movement in Russian philosophy.
• Benjamin Disraeli — Contemporary (Born in 1804) (1804): British statesman and Conservative leader, known for defining the modern Conservative Party.
• Alfonso XIII — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• Apsley Cherry-Garrard — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): English polar explorer renowned for his Antarctic accounts and survival narratives.
• Aron Nimzowitsch — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): Pioneering chess theorist and Danish master, known for the hypermodern school.
• Albert Finney — Shared historical date (02-07 · Died) (2019): Esteemed English actor celebrated for his versatile stage and screen performances.
• Alfred Worden — Shared historical date (02-07 · Born) (1932): American astronaut and test pilot, famous for Apollo 15 lunar mission.
• Alan Kay — Shared historical date (05-17 · Born) (1940): Pioneer of GUI, Object-Oriented Programming, and modern computing paradigms.
• Bartholomew Roberts — Shared historical date (05-17 · Born) (1682): Most successful pirate of the Golden Age, known for capturing over 400 prize ships.
• 1804 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1804
• February 7 (02-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 7
• 1886 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1886
• May 17 (05-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 17