Henry Ford (1863-1947)
Henry Ford helped create a mobile society by mass producing and marketing the Model T automobile, making it an indispensable part of American life. Through his efforts, the automotive industry became a worldwide phenomenon. Born on a farm near Detroit, Michigan, Ford worked on the farm, at a shipbuilding firm, and for a company which serviced steam engines. During the winters he experimented on building his own internal-combustion engines. He drove his first home-built automobile in 1896. The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 and he developed the Model T by 1908. Ford used mass production to reduce the price of the Model T, and he worked to perfect the assembly line. He retained complete company control and used it to amass billions of dollars.
Additional Information Can Be Found At...
Ford, Henry - Encarta Online Deluxe
TIME 100: Builders & Titans - Henry Ford
Henry Ford - International Motorsports Hall of Fame Member