Charles F. Kettering
1876 – 1958

Charles F. Kettering

American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 140 patents (1876–1958)

inventorentrepreneurengineer
Born
1876-08-29, Loudonville
Died
1958-11-25
Birthplace state
Ohio

Biography

Charles Franklin Kettering was born in Loudonville, Ohio in 1876 and died in 1958. An inventor, engineer, and entrepreneur, he held 186 patents and founded Delco, later serving as head of research at General Motors from 1920 to 1947. His automotive developments included the electrical starting motor and leaded gasoline, while work with DuPont led to his involvement in the invention of Freon refrigerant and the development of Duco lacquers and enamels for mass-produced automobiles. During his time with the Dayton-Wright Company, he developed the "Bug" aerial torpedo, which was considered the world's first aerial missile, and he advanced practical, lightweight two-stroke diesel engines used in locomotives and heavy equipment.

Occupation

Charles F. Kettering is recorded as a inventor, a entrepreneur and a engineer, born in Ohio (1876–1958).

Connections to Ohio

Charles F. Kettering was born in Loudonville, Ohio in 1876. Explore other notable figures from Ohio, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Charles F. Kettering came from Loudonville. A full Aubrey report on Loudonville pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Ohio

Other historical figures born in Ohio, ranked by historical prominence.

Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
American inventor and businessman (1847–1931)
Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
American astronaut and lunar explorer (1930–2012)
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
president of the United States from 1869 to 1877
James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield
president of the United States in 1881
William McKinley
William McKinley
president of the United States from 1897 to 1901
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
president of the United States from 1921 to 1923
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
president of the United States from 1877 to 1881

Frequently asked about Charles F. Kettering

Who was Charles F. Kettering?
Charles F. Kettering was American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 140 patents (1876–1958), born in Ohio (1876 – 1958).
When and where was Charles F. Kettering born?
Charles F. Kettering was born on 1876-08-29 in Loudonville.
When did Charles F. Kettering die?
Charles died on 1958-11-25.
What was Charles F. Kettering known for?
Charles F. Kettering is recorded as a inventor, a entrepreneur and a engineer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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