<p>Joseph Farwell Glidden was an American inventor and businessman who is best known for his development of barbed wire, a product that revolutionized the fencing industry and had a significant impact on the settlement and development of the American West.</p><p></p><p>Born in 1813 in Charlestown, New Hampshire, Glidden worked as a farmer and blacksmith before moving to Illinois in the 1850s. In 1874, he came up with the idea for barbed wire, which is a type of fencing wire that is made up of a series of sharp barbs that are attached to a central wire. He received a patent for his invention in 1874, and he went on to form the Barb Fence Company, which became one of the largest manufacturers of barbed wire in the world.</p><p></p><p>Barbed wire was a revolutionary product that made it possible to cheaply and effectively fence in large areas of land. This allowed farmers and ranchers to protect their livestock and crops from predators and trespassers, and it played a key role in the settlement and development of the American West.</p><p></p><p>Glidden was also a philanthropist, he donated to many organizations, including the Illinois State Historical Society and the American Museum of Natural History.</p><p></p><p>Glidden passed away in 1906, but his legacy lives on through his invention of barbed wire, which had a significant impact on the fencing industry and on the settlement and development of the American West. He was honored with numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Elliott Cresson Medal from the Franklin Institute.</p><p></p><p>In conclusion, Joseph Farwell Glidden was an American inventor and businessman who developed the barbed wire, a product that revolutionized the fencing industry and had a significant impact on the settlement and development of the American West. He was also a philanthropist and his legacy continues to be remembered and honored. His invention of barbed wire is considered to be one of the most important inventions of the 19th century and continues to be widely used today.</p><p></p><p></p>