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Francis Edgar Stanley and Freelan O. Stanley
American inventors
Quick Facts
Francis Edgar Stanely
- Born: June 1, 1849, Kingfield, Maine, U.S.
- Died: July 31, 1918, Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Freelan O. Stanley
- Born: June 1, 1849, Kingfield, Maine, U.S.
- Died: Oct. 2, 1940, Boston, Massachusetts.
Francis Edgar Stanley and Freelan O. Stanley were American inventors, twin brothers, and the most famous manufacturers of steam-driven automobiles.
In 1883 Francis Stanley invented a photographic dry-plate process, and together the brothers began to manufacture the plates. In 1897 they began developing their steam-powered cars, and their company, the Stanley Motor Company, continued building Stanley Steamers until the 1920s. They competed in racing events from 1902 to 1909, frequently beating larger, gasoline-powered cars. In 1906 the brothers built a steam car that set a world’s record that year for the fastest mile—28.2 seconds, corresponding to a speed of more than 127 miles (205 km) per hour.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston.
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