George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born into slavery in Missouri, most probably in January 1864. Although kidnapped by raiders as an infant, he was recovered by his master, who raised Carver as his own child after the emancipation. After earning his high school diploma, Carver was accepted by Highland College, only to be turned away because of race. He then turned to homesteading for a few years, before attending Simpson College and later Iowa State. While at Iowa State, he was approached by Booker T. Washington to lead the Agriculture department at the Tuskegee Institute, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was best known for his research into alternate uses for the peanut.