Windmills have long played a vital role in agriculture—grinding grain, pumping water, and powering essential equipment. But in 1854, a breakthrough in windmill design changed everything.
That year, American inventor Daniel Halladay patented the first commercially successful windmill. What set his design apart? Unlike previous stationary windmills, Halladay’s model automatically turned to face the prevailing wind direction—dramatically increasing efficiency. Even more innovative, it adjusted the pitch of its sails to maintain a uniform speed. And for the first time, the sails were made of steel instead of wood, greatly improving durability.
Halladay’s invention laid the foundation for the modern windmills and turbines we see today—providing consistent power and irrigation to farms across America and beyond.
—Mark Oppold reporting for the American Agriculture History Minute