Notable people · Business · Inventor
John C. Lincoln
Painesville-born engineer who founded Lincoln Electric in Cleveland in 1895 to build his own motor design and incorporated it in 1906. He held about 55 patents, handed day-to-day management to his brother James in 1913-14, and moved to Arizona in the 1930s.
At a glance
- Born
- 1866-07-17
- Died
- 1959-05-24
- Education
- Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, to 1888, Electrical engineering
- Known as
- Business, Inventor
- Organizations
- Lincoln Electric
Life story
John C. Lincoln was born in Painesville in 1866, the son of an abolitionist minister and a physician. He graduated from Ohio State in 1888 with an electrical engineering degree, studying under arc-light inventor Charles Brush.
He patented a street-railway electric brake in 1891, then founded Lincoln Electric in Cleveland in 1895 with $200. He held 55 patents; the last was granted after his death.
His brother James joined in 1907 and later ran the firm. In 1911 the company introduced a portable, variable-voltage welding machine, and its employee bonus system became well known.
He ran for vice president in 1924 on the Commonwealth Land Party ticket, moved to Arizona in 1931 when his wife fell ill with tuberculosis, co-invested in Camelback Inn, and founded hospitals and a foundation there. He died in 1959 and is buried in Phoenix.
Timeline
- 1866-07-17: Born in Painesville (Painesville, OH) source
- 1888: Graduates from Ohio State University in electrical engineering (Columbus, OH) source
- 1891: Patents electric street-railway brake (OH) source
- 1895: Founds Lincoln Electric (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1907: Brother James joins company (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1924: Commonwealth Land Party vice-presidential nominee (US) source
- 1931: Moves to Sunnyslope, Arizona (Phoenix, AZ) source
- 1959-05-24: Dies at 92; buried in Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ) source
What John is known for
- Founded Lincoln Electric 1895; incorporated 1906-06-09
- About 55 patents
- Lincoln Electric, 1895
- About 55 patents
- Camelback Inn, Arizona (co-investor, 1936)
- Lincoln Foundation (1946)
Inventions and firsts
- Lincoln Electric welding innovations (1895-1934)
Honors and things named for them
- American Mining Hall of Fame, 1998
- Lincoln Drive in Phoenix named for him
Family
- brother: James F. Lincoln
- wife: Helen Lincoln
Ohio places
Where John C. Lincoln was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Born: Painesville, Lake County ZIP 44077 · Painesville · Lake County
- Worked: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44114 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- John C. Lincoln (Wikipedia, pointer) born 1866-07-17 Painesville, died 1959-05-24 Phoenix, 1895 founding, Arizona move
- Lincoln Electric Co. (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) founded 1895, incorporated 1906-06-09, James F. Lincoln succession