← John Miller Nicholson, Manx artist and photographer, born
Myles Keogh in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, born →
- February 5, 1840
John Boyd Dunlop (February 05, 1840 - October 23, 1921) was a Scottish inventor who founded the rubber company that bears his name. In 1888 he developed commercially practical pneumatic tyres, a device which is essential in the modern automobile. He recognized for developing the first practical pneumatic (air-filled) rubber tire.
He was born on a farm at Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, and studied to be a veterinary surgeon at the Dick Vet, University of Edinburgh, a profession he pursued for nearly ten years at home, moving to Belfast, Ireland, in 1867.
In 1887, he developed the first practical pneumatic tyre for a boys tricycle, tested it, and patented it on December 7, 1888. Dunlops invention arrived at a crucial time in the development of road transport. Commercial production began in late 1890 in Belfast. Dunlop assigned his patent to William Harvey Du Cros, in return for 1500 shares in the resultant company, and in the end did not make any great fortune by his invention. Dunlop died in Dublin.
Dunlop, originally a veterinary surgeon by profession, devised the pneumatic tire in 1887 to improve the comfort of his son’s tricycle on the rough roads of Belfast, where he was practicing at the time. Observing how hard solid rubber tires transmitted every bump in the road directly to the rider, he conceived the idea of a tire that would be filled with air, thereby providing a cushion to absorb shocks. He wrapped rubber sheets around the tricycle wheels, glued them together, and inflated them with a football pump. This simple yet innovative idea greatly smoothed the ride.
Dunlop patented his invention in 1888, initially focusing on bicycles. The success of his pneumatic tires quickly became apparent when bicycles equipped with them began winning races, demonstrating their superior performance over traditional solid rubber tires. This success attracted the attention of the broader transportation industry, leading to the widespread adoption of pneumatic tires for bicycles and, eventually, automobiles.
Though Dunlop’s patent was later invalidated due to a prior patent filed by fellow Scot Robert William Thomson, Dunlop is still widely credited with popularizing the pneumatic tire and making significant contributions to its development. His invention led to the foundation of the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company, which became one of the foremost manufacturers of tires worldwide.
John Boyd Dunlop’s work laid the foundation for the modern tire industry, and his invention remains integral to vehicles of all types, enhancing safety, comfort, and performance.