Maria E. Beasley was born Maria Hauser in Philadelphia in 1847, and seemed born to be an inventor. At just thirteen years old she invented a boat that could hold both her and her dog, and from there she went on to hold 19 patents in the United States and Canada for her inventions.

While still a young woman, Maria visited her grandfather’s distillery in Kentucky. She saw his frustration with the lack of efficiency in making the barrels to hold his whiskey, and set out to find a better way.

In 1878 she found that better way when she patented her invention of a barrel-hooping machine, which made her very rich.

Not content to sit on her laurels, Maria went on to receive thirteen other patents for inventions as varied as a foot warmer, a device to make trains more efficient and an improved life raft.

Maria’s life rafts were revolutionary for their time, as they were fire-proof, safer and easier to launch. They were designed in a square and reversable, so they could still be used even if they flipped over.

It was rumored that Maria’s life rafts were used on the Titanic, but those rumors have not been substantiated.

Not surprisingly given the times and the lack of respect for women and their achievements, in an 1880 census her occupation was recorded as a housewife. But Maria Beasley was so much more than that…

So, the next time you’re enjoying a glass of whiskey, or grateful the train is on time, or feeling more secure on a cruise because you know there are life rafts on board… remember to thank a woman. Thank Maria Beasley.