April 7, 1947

On April 7, 1947, Henry Ford, auto industry pioneer and the grandson of Irish immigrants from Ballinascarthy, Co. Cork, died at 83 years of age. Born in Dearborn, Michigan in July 1883, Ford studied engineering and went on to invent the iconic Model T and the assembly line, and to found Ford Motor Company. He also introduced the now-standard concept of minimum wage, and was an early supporter of the 8 hour work day.