The New International Encyclopædia/Whitney, Asa

WHITNEY, Asa (1791-1874). An American mechanical engineer and manufacturer. He was born in Townsend, Mass., and in his youth learned the trade of blacksmith and machinist. After engaging in the manufacture of machinery in several States he became master machinist (1830) and superintendent (1833) of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad. From 1839 to 1841 he was a canal commissioner of the State of New York, and in 1842 went into partnership with Matthew Baldwin in the manufacture of locomotives at Philadelphia. In 1847 he patented a process for making cast-iron annealed car wheels, and engaged in their manufacture on a large scale, subsequently introducing other improvements which increased the strength of the wheels and contributed materially to the safety of railway travel. Mr. Whitney served for a year as president of the Reading Railroad. He left $50,000 to the University of Pennsylvania for the founding of a chair of dynamical engineering.