Maria Beasley

Maria Beasley revolutionized maritime safety with her patented life raft invention, saving countless lives at sea.

Maria Beasley (1847–1904) was an American inventor whose groundbreaking contributions to maritime safety made a significant difference in the late 19th century. Best known for her U.S. Patent 220,065 granted in 1879, Beasley redesigned life rafts to be fireproof, compact, and easily deployable—a stark improvement over earlier designs.

Her innovation addressed critical flaws in existing life-saving equipment, which were often bulky and prone to damage. By incorporating airtight metal containers and collapsible features, Beasley's raft became a standard on ships, notably used aboard the Titanic. Historians credit her invention with reducing fatalities during maritime disasters.

Beyond life rafts, Beasley held 15 patents, including a barrel-making machine that revolutionized industrial packaging. Her work exemplifies how women inventors overcame gender barriers to drive technological progress.