Maria Beasley (1836–1913) proved her passion for innovation when she was very young. A newspaper featured her when she was 13 building a small raft that could float her and her dog across a river. She would grow up to become a successful inventor.
Between 1878 and 1898, Beasley received 15 patents for her creations. She initially developed her inventions to make money. Later in her career, she focused on devices that saved lives.
