Willis Carrier

Willis Carrier was an American engineer and inventor. He was born in Angola, New York, in 1876. He invented modern air conditioning. His invention changed how people live, work, and build cities.

Early Life

Carrier was good at math and engineering from a young age. He studied at Cornell University. He got his first job at a heating company. He was asked to solve a humidity problem at a printing company.

The front page of an engineering book edited by Willis Carrier.
The front page of an engineering book edited by Willis Carrier. (Willis Carrier / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

In 1902, Carrier designed a system to control temperature and humidity for a printing company. He later improved his design for use in homes, offices, and factories. He founded the Carrier Corporation. Air conditioning made it possible for people to live comfortably in hot places and for factories to run year-round.

Fun Facts

  • Carrier's first air conditioning system was designed to fix a printing problem, not to cool people.
  • Movie theaters were some of the first public places to have air conditioning.
  • Air conditioning made it possible for cities in hot climates to grow rapidly.

Did You Know?

Before air conditioning, Congress would leave Washington, D.C., every summer because it was too hot. Air conditioning changed where people could live and work. Cities like Phoenix, Houston, and Dubai grew because of this invention.