Inventor Frederick McKinley Jones pioneered portable refrigeration, which earned him the nickname “King of Cool.” After a challenging childhood, Jones taught himself mechanical and electrical engineering and became one of the most notable Black inventors of the 20th century. He received more than 60 patents during his lifetime for inventing various refrigeration, sound, and automobile devices. The portable refrigeration units he developed helped the United States military transport food, medicine, and blood during World War II. With a business partner, Jones founded a company today known as Thermo King. He died in February 1961 at age 67.
