Francis Merritt Singer: A Connection to the Singer Sewing Machine Legacy

Researched and Submitted to the Linwood Legacy by David Brady

Photos Include: 1. Headshot of Francis Merritt Singer; 2. Headshot of Isaac Merritt Singer; 3. One of the original Singer Sewing Machines.

Isaac Merritt Singer, born on October 27, 1811, in New York, is one of the most iconic figures associated with the sewing machine. While many mistakenly believe he invented the sewing machine, it was his critical improvements to the design and his groundbreaking marketing strategies that secured his place in history. Singer was among the first to introduce a payment plan, making sewing machines affordable for households, and he expanded production overseas to avoid the financial impact of the American Civil War. His savvy business moves helped make the Singer Sewing Machine Company a household name.

Known for his colorful personal life, Singer fathered at least 24 children with various wives and mistresses. In 1863, he retired to southern England with his final wife, Isabella Eugenie Boyer, a French-born beauty who is believed to have been the inspiration for the Statue of Liberty. Isaac passed away on July 23, 1875, leaving behind a fortune of $14 million, a vast sum for the time, which was divided among his many children.

In an intriguing twist, the legacy of Isaac Merritt Singer extends to Columbus, Georgia, where the great-grandson of Isaac, Francis Merritt Singer, is buried in Linwood Cemetery. Born on February 3, 1923, Francis was the son of George Singer, Isaac’s grandson through Paris Eugene Singer. The family moved to Columbus in 1929, where Francis attended Georgia Tech and worked briefly at Southern Telephone & Telegraph. Tragically, he died in a car accident at just 25 years old, on December 12, 1948. His connection to the Singer family and the company's history remains a fascinating part of Columbus' past, linking our town to one of America's most iconic industrial legacies.