Ellen Eglin

Ellen F. Eglin (before 1849 – after 1890) was an African-American inventor who invented a clothes wringer. when questioned why she decided to sell her invention, she replied, "You know I am black and if it was known that a Negro woman patented the invention, white ladies would not buy the wringer; I was afraid to be known because of my color in having it introduced in the market, that is the only reason." It has been suggested that Cyrenus Wheeler Jr acquired it, and registered it as US patent 459343. Wheeler, who bought a wringer company around this time, is known to have said he had twelve patents for improvements to clothes wringers, nine of his own invention and three that he bought. Shortly after the time of Eglin's invention companies such as American Wringer Co. were buying as many wringer patents as they could and manufacturing them for retail. There is no record showing whether Eglin's patent was acquired by American Wringer Co.

Last years Little is known about the later stages of Eglin's life, including the place or date of her death. Eglin appears to have spent the rest of her life in Washington, DC. In 1890, she was employed by the United States Department of the Interior as a charwoman in the Census Office. She appeared in the local city directories from about 1888 living at 1929 11th Street, N. W. with her brother Charles, a Union Navy veteran who was a teamster. Charles Eglin died in July 1896, leaving his estate divided between his three siblings, including Ellen.

Ellen Eglin last appears in the Washington city directories in 1916.