Today, we honor the life and legacy of John Albert Burr (1848–1926), an African American inventor whose innovation helped shape the modern lawn mower and transform everyday lawn care.
Born in Maryland to formerly enslaved parents, John T. and Anna Wanger Burr, young Burr came of age during the Civil War era. As a teenager, he worked as a field hand, gaining firsthand experience with the demanding labor of agriculture. Though his early years were marked by hardship, Burr showed remarkable mechanical talent.
Recognizing his potential, prominent Black leaders supported his pursuit of engineering studies at a private university. Burr went on to attend Harvard Business School and later moved to Chicago in the 1870s, where he worked as a steelworker and repairman, sharpening the mechanical skills that would define his career.
While living in Agawam, Massachusetts, Burr filed a patent in 1898 for an improved rotary lawn mower. On May 9, 1899, his patent was officially granted. His design addressed one of the biggest frustrations of manual mowers at the time: grass clippings clogging the blades. By improving traction and introducing a specialized rotary blade mechanism, Burr made mowing smoother, more efficient, and more maneuverable. His mower also allowed for closer trimming around trees, posts, and buildings — a feature still familiar in lawn equipment today.
Beyond the mower itself, Burr developed additional improvements for mulching, sifting, and dispersing grass clippings. His forward-thinking designs returned nutrients to the soil, reducing waste and saving labor — principles that continue in today’s mulching mowers.
Throughout his lifetime, Burr held more than 30 U.S. patents related to lawn care and agricultural machinery. Unlike many inventors of his era, he successfully commercialized his creations and earned royalties from his work. He traveled, lectured, and enjoyed the rewards of his ingenuity.
John Albert Burr lived a long and impactful life, passing away in 1926 at the age of 78 due to influenza.
His legacy lives on in every neatly trimmed lawn and every innovation that makes hard work easier.
Thank you for your brilliance, your perseverance, and your lasting contribution to history.
