Jennings was born in New York City in 1791. He started his career as a tailor, going on to open one of the leading clothing shops in the city. What set him apart from his peers was his keen business sense and ability to find new solutions to old problems.
Jennings was always attentive to the needs of his customers and he found that many of them were unhappy when their clothes eventually became soiled. The material used to make garments made it almost impossible to clean. But Jennings was already working on a solution.
Jennings created a method called “dry scouring,” known today as dry cleaning. He was awarded the patent in 1820 and his solvent based process of cleaning clothes became widely known throughout the country.
Jennings paid his good fortune forward to liberate his family. He used the money earned from his patent to buy his family’s freedom from enslavement. He then used his funds to support abolitionist efforts.
Jennings not only made it possible for Black inventors to receive credit for their creations, but he also used his newfound money and power for Black liberation. His story reminds us to never forget our people, especially once we become successful.