9: The Science of Sweetness: How Norbert Rillieux Transformed the Sugar Industry

Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons

Date: September 11, 2024

Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons

Title and Show Info

Episode #9: “The Science of Sweetness: How Norbert Rillieux Transformed the Sugar Industry”

Featuring: Toni Davis (Host & Storyteller).

Summary

In this thrilling episode, we journey into the life of Norbert Rillieux, the unsung genius who revolutionized sugar refining and forever changed the world of industrial evaporation. Born in New Orleans in 1806, this "quadroon libre" defied the odds, blending his lineage of French aristocracy and free Black heritage to become one of history’s most important inventors.

Norbert’s journey takes him from the vibrant streets of New Orleans to the esteemed École Centrale in Paris, where his brilliance in engineering and mechanics began to shine. But it’s his return to Louisiana that sets the stage for a sugar industry breakthrough. Discover how Norbert's invention—the multiple-effect evaporator under vacuum—not only transformed sugar from a luxury to a daily staple but also safeguarded the lives of countless workers.

Tune in to explore the intricate relationships, rivalries, and innovations that marked Rillieux’s life. We’ll uncover how his patented invention earned him worldwide recognition and wealth, and why his legacy continues to sweeten our lives today. From sugarcane to sugar beets, from New Orleans to Paris, this episode celebrates the remarkable story of Norbert Rillieux—a name you’ll never forget after this tale of innovation, resilience, and legacy.

Highlights:

01:10= INTRO

01:29= NORBERT RILLIEUX’S BIRTH IN NEW ORLEANS, LA.

01:41= FREE PERSON OF COLOR.

01:48= HIS FATHER VINCENT RILLIEUX.

01:55= HIS MOTHER CONSTANCE VIVANT.

03:09= HIS SIBLINGS.

04:09= STUDENT AT ECOLE CENTRALE IN PARIS.

04:44= INSTRUCTOR AT ECOLE CENTRALE IN PARIS.

05:25= REFINING SUGAR INTO CRYSTALLIZED GRANULES.

06:55= RETURNS TO NEW ORLEANS, LA

07:50= MULTIPLE EFFECT EVAPORATOR UNDER VACUUM.

07:57= US PATENT FOR HIS INVENTION.

08:36= THE SUGAR TRAIN.

09:42= MRYTLE GROVE PLANTATION INSTALLATION.

09:45= BELLE CHASSE PLANTATION INSTALLATION.

10:05= MERRICK & TOWNE IN PHILADELPHIA OFFERS 3 DIFFERENT INVENTION SYSTEMS.

10:47= INVENTION ADOPTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

11:01= INVENTION IS USED IN PRODUCTION OF OTHER GOODS.

11:48= RETURNS TO PARIS, FRANCE.

12:25= LEARNS EGYPTOLOGY.

13:03= SUGAR BEETS SUGAR REFINING.

13:03= INVENTOR USED FOR SUGAR BEETS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

13:49= LOSES HIS PATENT.

13:59= NORBERT RILLIEUX PASSES AWAY.

14:08= BURIED IN PARIS CEMETERY.

14:21= WIFE, EMILY CUCKOW PASSES AWAY.

14:45= ACCOLADES.

19:17= CONCLUSION.

odcast.

Links To Additional Resources:

Norbert Rillieux - American Chemical Society (acs.org)

Norbert Rillieux - Wikipedia

NIHF Inductee Robert Rillieux Invented Refining Sugar

NIHF Inductee Robert Rillieux Invented Refining Sugar

The free man of color whose invention revolutionized the sugar industry | The Historic New Orleans Collection (hnoc.org)

Norbert Rillieux - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

Black History – Norbert Rillieux (chefsville.org)

Norbert Rillieux: African American Inventor (myblackhistory.net) (revisit before creating essay) ***

Norbert Rillieux | The Engines of Our Ingenuity (uh.edu)

How Sweet it Is … Norbert Rillieux, Sugar Savant (entergynewsroom.com)

Norbert Rillieux (1806-1894) • (blackpast.org)

Norbert Rillieux, Engineer, and Inventor born - African American Registry (aaregistry.org)

Happy Birthday, Norbert Rillieux | COMSOL Blog

Norbert Rillieux - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

Black Inventor Named to Hall of Fame | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)