Margaret Eloise Knight

Margaret E. Knight, an inventive trailblazer born in 1838 in York, Maine, is celebrated for her groundbreaking contributions to industrial machinery and packaging. After the death of her father, Knight began working in a textile factory at just 12 years old. It was here that she developed her first invention, a safety stopper to prevent accidents in mills, which proved life-saving for many workers.

Knight's most famous invention came after she moved to Framingham, Massachusetts, where she worked at a paper bag factory following the Civil War. Observing the inefficient design of paper bags, she conceived the idea for a machine that could produce flat-bottomed bags—a design still in use today. However, her success was marred by a patent dispute with Charles Annan, who tried to steal her invention. Knight fought back by suing him in court and, in 1871, was awarded the patent for her machine.

Throughout her life, Knight patented 20 inventions and was often referred to as the 'Edison in a skirt.' Her inventions, particularly the flat-bottomed paper bag, had a lasting impact on both industry and environmental sustainability. 

Knight never married or had children but continued to innovate until her death in 1914. In recognition of her achievements, she was made a chevalier of the Royal Legion of Honour in 1871 and inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006. Margaret Knight’s legacy, especially in Framingham, continues to inspire innovation in both engineering and design.