Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Greenfield Township, Michigan, United States. He was the first of William and Mary Ford's eight children. William Ford was a farmer and mechanic, and Mary Ford was a homemaker.
Ford was an intelligent and curious child, and he enjoyed tinkering with machines and inventions from an early age. He received a basic education in a one-room schoolhouse and later attended a private school in Detroit.
In 1879, Ford left school to work as an apprentice in a machine shop, where he learned the skills that would serve him well as an inventor and industrialist. He also developed a strong interest in steam engines and internal combustion engines, and he began experimenting with ways to make these engines more efficient and powerful.
In 1891, Ford married Clara Ala Bryant, and the couple had one child, Edsel, who was born in 1893. Clara was a supportive and influential partner to Ford, and she played a key role in the development and success of the Ford Motor Company.
Ford's early career was marked by a series of failures and setbacks. He worked as an engineer and inventor for various companies, but he struggled to turn his ideas into profitable businesses. In 1899, he formed the Detroit Automobile Company, but it went bankrupt after just two years.
Despite these setbacks, Ford persevered and continued to experiment with new technologies and designs. In 1903, he founded the Ford Motor Company, which was initially focused on producing a simple and reliable automobile that was affordable for the average person.
Ford's vision was realized with the introduction of the Model T in 1908. This car was revolutionary in that it was mass-produced on an assembly line, which made it more affordable and efficient to produce. The Model T became wildly popular and helped to transform the automobile industry.
Ford continued to innovate and expand the Ford Motor Company, and by 1913, he had developed the first moving assembly line, which revolutionized manufacturing and made the company even more efficient and profitable.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Ford became increasingly involved in philanthropy and social reform. He supported various causes, including the peace movement, and he was a vocal advocate for the rights of African Americans and other marginalized groups.
Ford retired from the Ford Motor Company in 1945, but he remained active in philanthropy and public life until his death on April 7, 1947, at the age of 84. He is remembered as one of the most influential and innovative industrialists in history, and his contributions to the automobile industry and modern manufacturing have had a lasting impact on society.