Josephine Cochrane

Josephine Cochrane (1839-1913) was the inventor of the precursor to the modern dishwasher. Frustrated by the common problem of dishes chipping while hand-washing, she decided to create a solution. 

Her machine featured a spinning wheel with wire compartments holding dishes in place, and jets that pumped soapy water. It received wide acclaim for its durability and design at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (Chicago World’s Fair) in 1893, and was initially adopted largely by businesses that could afford the hot water use. 

As technology improved in the mid-19th century, the “Cochrane Dishwasher” became commonplace in homes across the United States. In addition, her company, Cochrane’s Crescent Washing Machine Company, was instrumental in the creation of KitchenAid — one of the largest kitchen appliance makers in the world today.