A Pioneer in Invention and Innovation
Miriam Elizabeth Benjamin, born on September 16, 1861, in Charleston, South Carolina, made significant contributions to the fields of invention, innovation, and education. As the second African American woman to receive a patent from the United States government, Benjamin’s impact is felt across various industries to this day. Benjamin was the oldest of five children, and her mother, Eliza Hopkins Benjamin, moved the family to Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 1870s. Little is known about her father, Francis Benjamin. Miriam Benjamin attended high school in Boston before pursuing higher education in Washington, D.C. She studied medicine and law at Howard University, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and intellectual pursuits.
In 1888, Miriam Elizabeth Benjamin received U.S. Patent number 386,289 for inventing the gong and signal chair. This groundbreaking innovation aimed to revolutionize various industries, including hotels, theaters, healthcare, and government. The chair’s key feature was a notification system that allowed the seated individual to alert an attendant when assistance was needed. By pressing a button, a gong or ring would sound simultaneously with a red signal or flag becoming visible on the chair itself. Benjamin’s invention garnered widespread attention and was featured in newspapers across the country. She advocated for its use as a signaling system in the U.S. House of Representatives, and her proposal heavily influenced the eventual system installed. Additionally, her insight can be traced to the method used to signal flight attendants on airplanes today.
Miriam Elizabeth Benjamin’s career as an inventor did not end with the gong and signal chair. In 1917, she patented a system to deliver medication via inserts in the sole of a shoe (U.S. Patent Number 1249,000), showcasing her continued dedication to addressing practical challenges through innovation. By 1920, Benjamin had returned to Boston to live with her brother, Edgar, a successful lawyer, and her mother. She remained there until her passing in 1947. Despite her significant contributions to various fields, Benjamin never married nor had any children.
In addition to her achievements as an inventor, Miriam Elizabeth Benjamin likely found success as a composer under the pseudonym E.B. Miriam. Music historians attribute at least two prominent marches to her, including “The Boston Elite Two-Step,” performed by the United States Marine Band under John Philip Sousa in the early 1890s. Another composition, “The American Bugle Call,” gained widespread attention as the campaign song for the 1904 Presidential Campaign of Theodore Roosevelt.
Miriam Elizabeth Benjamin’s legacy as a pioneer in invention and innovation continues to inspire future generations. Her remarkable contributions to various industries and her commitment to academic excellence serve as a testament to the impact of African American women throughout history.