This story is about an American industrialist who changed transportation and movement forever. He inspired many and changed the game of mass production. With determination and hard work, Henry Ford greatly impacted transportation around the world and improved the way we produce everything.

Hello! My name is Henry Ford, and I was born on July 30, 1863, in Michigan. My parents are Mary and William Ford, and I am the oldest of six children in my family.

Ever since I was young, I have loved building things, especially mechanics. When I was 12, I spent most of my time in a small machine shop that I made and equipped myself! When I was 15 I constructed my very first steam engine. I found my passion in mechanics and I knew that I had big plans for my future!

When I got a little older, I became a machinist’s apprentice in Detroit. This means that I worked under a professional and learned a lot from my mentor and the experience! When I finished my apprenticeship in 1882, I left to spend an entire year working on steam engines in southern Michigan.

A few years later I married my wife, Clara Jane Bryant, on April 11, 1888. Marriage was exciting and I worked to support our new family by running a sawmill!

In 1891 I started working as an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit. I worked really hard and eventually became a chief engineer on November 6, 1893. When I thought my life couldn’t get any better, I became a father to my son Edsel Bryant Ford! I was so happy.

Employees at Edison Illuminating 

Company, 1895

Throughout my time at the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit, Thomas Edison became a lifelong mentor and inspiration to me. I was on call to work all hours of the day but in my free time I enjoyed building a gasoline powered horseless carriage, otherwise known as an automobile!

The very first engine that I made was constructed in my own house! The first car I created was called the “Quadricycle” and is was completed in June 1896. While I loved the Quadricycle, I sold it so I could build new and improved vehicles!

On August 19, 1899 I quite working for the Edison Illuminating Company so that I could spend my time designing and building race cars! One race car that I designed was called the Sweepstakes, and I even beat Alexander Winton on a track in Michigan with it in 1901. A month after that exciting race I decided to take a risk and start the Henry Ford Company!

Sweepstakes Race, 

1901

About a year later I left the Henry Ford Company which later became the Cadillac Motor Company! One June 16, 1903 I created the Ford Motor Company along with 12 other people. It was really exciting as the first car built by our Company was sold immediately!

On January 12, 1904, my racing car called “The 999” gained the world record for the mile, covering the distance in 39.4 seconds! The race was completed on the winter ice of Lake St. Clair. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

I became the President and owner of the Ford Motor Company in 1906 which was so exciting! Our Model T automobile made its debut in October of 1908 and it was a huge success. All of my hard work was starting to pay off!

Advertisement of the 1909 Ford 

Model T, "The Four Cyclinder"

My company was receiving so many orders that I had to think of a solution quick. After brainstorming for a while, I came up with the concept of an assembly line! The assembly line made production faster and allowed us to make more automobiles. My idea also cut the costs of production, so I was able to increase my workers’ daily pay!

By 1918, half of all cars in America were Model Ts! I am so proud of this because I worked so hard to create my cars and my business.