Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, on May 2, 1844, the son of former slaves who escaped from Kentucky before the American Civil War. Trained in Scotland as a mechanical engineer, Elijah McCoy returned to the United States and settled in Detroit, Michigan. He began experimenting with a cup that regulated the flow of oil over the moving parts of industrial machines. His first invention was a lubricator for steam engines, US 129,843, issued July 12, 1872. The invention allowed machines to remain in motion to be lubricated; his new lubrication device revolutionized the industrial machinery industry. Elijah McCoy founded his own company and was responsible for a total of 57 patents. The term "true McCoy" refers to the lubrication device used for industrial machinery. His contribution to the lubricating device has become so popular that people inspecting new equipment ask if the device contains the real McCoy, this has helped popularize the American expression, meaning the real thing. His other inventions included an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. Elijah McCoy died on October 10, 1929 after a year in the Eloise Infirmary, Eloise, Michigan, suffering from senile dementia caused by hypertension. He was buried in Detroit, Michigan. Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, on May 2, 1844, the son of former slaves who escaped from Kentucky before the American Civil War. Trained in Scotland as a mechanical engineer, Elijah McCoy returned to the United States and settled in Detroit, Michigan. He began experimenting with a cup that regulated the flow of oil over the moving parts of industrial machines. His first invention was a lubricator for steam engines, US 129,843, issued July 12, 1872. The invention allowed machines to remain in motion to be lubricated; his new lubrication device revolutionized the industrial machinery industry. Elijah McCoy founded his own company and was responsible for a total of 57 patents, the term "real McCoy" refers to the lubrication device used for industrial machines.