The invention of dry cleaning is credited to Thomas L. Jennings, an African- American inventor and businessman. In 1821, Jennings received a patent for a process he called "dry scouring," which was a cleaning method that did not involve water soaking and is considered a precursor to modern dry cleaning. Jennings was the first African-American to be granted a patent in the United States for this invention. His method helped clean clothes without damaging the fibers and laid the foundation for the dry cleaning industry as it developed later on. The modern dry cleaning process involving chemical solvents was further developed by a French operator, Jean Baptiste Jolly, around the 1850s after an accidental discovery with kerosene. Thomas Jennings not only innovated in dry cleaning but also used the proceeds from his invention to support abolitionist causes. His patent and business success marked a significant milestone in both technology and civil rights history.