Origins & Early Life

Thomas Midgley Jr. (May 18, 1889 – November 2, 1944) was an American mechanical and chemical engineer. He played a major role in developing leaded gasoline (tetraethyl lead) and some of the first chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), better known in the United States by the brand name Freon; both products were later banned from common use due to their harmful impact on human health and the environment. He was granted more than 100 patents over the course of his career.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Midgley contracted polio in 1940 and was left disabled; in 1944, he was found strangled to death by a device he devised to allow him to get out of bed unassisted. It is often reported that he had been accidentally killed by his own invention, but his death was declared by the coroner to be a suicide. While the harmful effects of CFCs were not understood until decades after Midgley's death, tetraethyl lead was known to be acutely toxic by those involved in the development of leaded gasoline. This included Midgley, who publicly insisted that there was nonetheless no health hazard posed by the use of leaded gasoline in internal combustion engines. Thomas Midgley Jr.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on May 18...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexandre Cabanel — Contemporary (Died in 1889) (1889): Prominent French Academic painter, celebrated for historical and mythological subjects.
• Anna Akhmatova — Contemporary (Born in 1889) (1889): A seminal Russian poet whose work chronicled the trauma of the Soviet era.
• Anne Lee Guinness — Contemporary (Died in 1889) (1889): Irish philanthropist known for establishing nursing homes and supporting the poor in Dublin.
• Aimee Semple McPherson — Contemporary (Died in 1944) (1944): Pioneering Pentecostal evangelist, famous for founding the Foursquare Church.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Ban Ki-moon — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): South Korean diplomat who served as the UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016.
• Bertrand Russell — Shared historical date (05-18 · Born) (1872): Pioneering philosopher and logician, known for analytic thought and social commentary.
• Chow Yun-fat — Shared historical date (05-18 · Born) (1955): Versatile Hong Kong actor celebrated for action roles and dramatic depth.
• Anupam Tripathi — Shared historical date (11-02 · Born) (1988): Indian actor based in South Korea, known for roles in K-dramas and films.
• Bartolomeo Colleoni — Shared historical date (11-02 · Died) (1475): Renowned 15th-century Italian condottiero and military officer of Venice.
• 1889 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1889
• May 18 (05-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 18
• 1944 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1944
• November 2 (11-02) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 2