Georges de Mestral

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George de Mestral (June 19, 1907–February 8, 1990) was an electrical engineer who invented Velcro.

Born in Nyon, between Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland, De Mestral designed a toy airplane at age twelve and patented it. He attended the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. After graduation he worked in the machine shop of an engineering company. In his spare time he was an amateur mountaineer, and while he was enjoying the outdoors, burrs often got stuck to his wool hunting pants and his dog's fur. Microscopic inspection of the burrs provided inspiration for the invention of a new fastener. Despite initial public resistance to his idea, he began his own company and in 1951 he successfully patented Velcro, selling 60 million yards (about 55,000 km) a year. It was a multi-million dollar company.

On his father's death in 1966, De Mestral inherited the family home, the Swiss château of Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges. He died in Commugny, Switzerland.

[edit] References

• "Le château de Saint Saphorin sur Morges" at Swiss Castles
• Short biography at National Inventors Hall of Fame, Akron, Ohio - gives birthplace
• "Caskets On Parade" - gives birth and death places