George Henry Corliss

[2] The son of a physician, he attended local schools until age 14, when he began working in a general store in the town of Greenwich, New York.However, he soon abandoned work on sewing machines to focus on a new endeavor, improving the stationary steam engine, which at the time was an innefficient or supplemental alternative to water power.Corliss and his associates erected a new factory at the junction of Charles Street and the railroad in Providence, where the company would expand greatly in the years to follow.Corliss directed both the business and research sides of this company, and over the years invented many assembly line improvements such as a bevel-gear cutter.When Corliss found out what the tooling was for, he put aside other business and worked his plant day and night to get this important ring completed and on time and delivered to New York.On January 11, 1870, one hundred years after James Watt patented his first steam engine, Corliss was awarded the Rumford Prize by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.It was on this occasion Dr. Asa Gray, the president of the academy, remarked, "No invention since Watt's time has so enhanced the efficiency of the steam engine as this for which the Rumford medal is now presented."Upon the great task of arranging the exposition, he worked with his usual indefatigable energy and it was his suggestion that the Centennial Board of Finance be organized, a body which had no little to do with the insurance of the financial success of the exhibition.He was elected three consecutive times to the Rhode Island General Assembly as the Representative from North Providence, his term of service including the three years 1868-69-70.[9] Despite the competition, Corliss would continue to remain active within his company, directing changes to his basic design as market or customer needs dictated.
A typical Corliss engine. The Corliss valve gear is on the left and connects to the piston which drives the flywheel on the right.
Detail of a Corliss-type valvegear showing the path of high-pressure steam (in red) and low-pressure steam (in blue). With each stroke, the four valves alternate opening and closing, driving the piston back and forth
Detail of Monitor 's turret, that Corliss help build
Stereograph of the 1876 Centennial Engine
Easton, New YorkProvidence, Rhode IslandSwan Point Cemeterymechanical engineerinventorCorliss steam enginestationary steam engineCentennial ExpositionPhiladelphiaVermontGreenwich, New YorkCastleton, Vermontvalve gearflywheelBatten KillGreenwichCanterbury, ConnecticutrailroadProvidenceWilliamScotlandB. Hick and SonBolton, EnglandMonitorCivil War1867 World's FairJohn Scott RussellJames WattRumford PrizeAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesDr. Asa GrayStereographRhode IslandhorsepowerPullman Car WorksChicagoRhode Island General AssemblyNorth ProvidencePresident HayesCongregationalistCentral Congregational ChurchWorthington Pump and Machinery CompanyAllis-ChalmersVienna ExpositionViennaMontyon prizeOrder of LeopoldCorliss-Brackett HouseBrown UniversityCorliss High SchoolNational Inventors Hall of FameWayback MachineFind a Grave