Born in Baltimore, MD in 1839 as the first of five children to Robert F. Flemming Sr and Mary Jane Flemming, the Flemming family relocated to Massachusetts. As a young adult, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy in May 1863 and discharged from service in June of 1865. Flemming Jr. returned to Massachusetts where he worked as a guitar manufacturer and music teacher. His curiosity and desire for a louder and more resonant sound, compared to traditional guitars then, led to his creation of the 'Euphonica' guitar. In modern times today, we know this as the Acoustic guitar.
Flemming Jr. received the U.S. patent grant for this invention on March 30, 1886 and also in Canada on April 5, 1887. Through the remainder of his life, he continued to teach music lessons and composed the National Funeral Hymn for the Grand Army of the Republic.
Robert F. Flemming Jr. laid the foundation for an instrument used in some of the most beautiful sounds we hear today. Music is always the key.
We thank you.
This was a GREAT read! I will definitely pass this along to my kid since they're trying to eliminate Black History Month in the schools. I never depended on them to teach my child what I want her to know. We have Black History every day in my household.
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