1. Patricia Bath (November 4, 1942)
Among many firsts, Patricia Bath is the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology and the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent. She invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment in 1986.
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Patricia Bath (November 4, 1942)

2. Mae C. Jemison (October 17, 1956)
Mae C. Jemison is the first African-American female astronaut. In 1992, she flew into space aboard the Endeavour, becoming the first African-American woman in space.
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Mae C. Jemison (October 17, 1956)

3. Alexa Canady (November 7, 1950)
In 1981, Alexa Canady became the first female African-American neurosurgeon in the United States.
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Alexa Canady (November 7, 1950)

4. Regina Benjamin (October 26, 1956)
Physician Regina Benjamin worked as the 18th U.S. surgeon general, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009.
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Regina Benjamin (October 26, 1956)

5. Marie M. Daly (April 16, 1921- October 28, 2003)
Marie M. Daly is best known for being the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States.
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Marie M. Daly (April 16, October 28, 2003)

6. Mary Mahoney (May 7, 1845- January 4, 1926)
Mary Mahoney became the first black woman to complete nurse's training in 1879.
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Mary Mahoney (May 7, January 4, 1926)

7. Madam C J Walker (December 23, 1867- May 25, 1919)
Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, created specialized hair products for African- American hair and was one of the first American women to become a self- made millionaire.
Madam C J Walker (December 23, May 25, 1919)

8. "My mom came home one day with an article from 1922 about Bessie Coleman. [That] was my first mentor: an article about [the first] black female pilot," says Wordlaw, a pilot for United Airlines—one of very few female African- Americans to fly for a major carrier. "It makes a difference to see someone who looks like you doing something that you want to do.“
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Nia Wordlaw

9. Mary Styles Harris (June 26, 1949)
Distinguished American health researcher Mary Styles Harris has gained national attention for her work and influence on national health policies.
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Mary Styles Harris (June 26, 1949)

10. Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806)
African American astronomer, mathematician and author who constructed America’s first functional clock.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806)

11. Charles Drew (June 3, 1904 – April 1, 1950)
American physician, surgeon and medical researcher known as the inventor of the blood bank.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Charles Drew (June 3, 1904 – April 1, 1950)

12. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (January 18, 1858 – August 4, 1931)
African American physician who performed the first prototype open-heart surgery.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (January 18, 1858 – August 4, 1931)

13. Emmett Chappelle (born October 25, 1925)
African American scientist and researcher and a recipient of 14 U.S. patents, who discovered that a particular combination of chemicals caused all living organisms to emit light.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Emmett Chappelle (born October 25, 1925)

14. Ernest Everett Just (August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941)
African American biologist and author known for his work on egg fertilization and the structure of the cell.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Ernest Everett Just (August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941)

15. Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877 – August 27, 1963)
African American inventor who made both the first traffic signal invention and the first patented gas mask.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877 – August 27, 1963)

16. George Washington Carver (January 1864 – January 5, 1943)
American scientist and inventor and an extraordinary explorer and innovator of agricultural science. .
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
George Washington Carver (January 1864 – January 5, 1943)

17. James West (born February 10, 1931)
African-American inventor who developed the “mic” in the 1960s; holds 47 U.S. and more than 200 foreign patents on microphones and techniques for making polymer foil- electrets.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
James West (born February 10, 1931)

18. Norbert Rillieux (March 17, 1806 – October 8, 1894)
American inventor and engineer, best remembered for his invention of the multiple-effect evaporator.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Norbert Rillieux (March 17, 1806 – October 8, 1894)

19. Percy Lavon Julian (April 11, 1899 – April 19, 1975)
African American researcher known for being a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Percy Lavon Julian (April 11, 1899 – April 19, 1975)

20. Philip Emeagwali (born August 23, 1954)
Nigerian-born scientist and inventor known for first using a Connection Machine supercomputer to help analyze petroleum fields.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Philip Emeagwali (born August 23, 1954)

21. Prof. Samuel Massie Jr. (July 3, 1919 – April 10, 2005)
An organic chemist who was the first African American to teach at the U.S. Naval Academy.
tists.org/15-famous- black-scientists-in- history/
Prof. Samuel Massie Jr. (July 3, 1919 – April 10, 2005)