1859 – 1896

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.

American engineer (1859-1896)

civil engineerinventorengineer

Born

1859-02-14, Galesburg

Died

1896-11-22

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. was an American civil engineer. He is mostly known for creating the original Ferris Wheel for the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition.

Occupation

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. is recorded as a civil engineer, a inventor and a engineer, born in Illinois (1859–1896).

Connections to Illinois

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was born in Galesburg, Illinois in 1859. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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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

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

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 Illinois

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

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Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.

Who was George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.?

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was American engineer (1859-1896), born in Illinois (1859 – 1896).

When and where was George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. born?

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was born on 1859-02-14 in Galesburg.

When did George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. die?

George died on 1896-11-22.

What was George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. known for?

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. is recorded as a civil engineer, a inventor 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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