ACHESON, EDWARD GOODRICH Amer ican inventor, was born at Washington (Pa.), on March 9, 1856. He was compelled to earn his living at an early age, but devoted his leisure to mechanical invention and experiment. Becoming in terested in electricity, he entered the employ of Thomas A. Edison. In 1881 he assisted in the preparation of the Edison exhibit at the Paris International Exposition and later, for the Edison interests, installed the first electric lights in Italy, Belgium and Holland. On returning to the United States he resumed his experiments. He discovered a new abrasive substance df great cutting power, which he named carborundum. Inventing a method of producing a remarkably pure synthetic, graphite, he organized in 1899 the Acheson Graphite Co., to handle the patent. This company met with great success. His numerous patents cover methods of pro ducing metallic silicon cheaply; the lubricants known as oildag, aquadag and gredag; the treatment of clay to increase plasticity (Egyptianized clay).