George Washington Carver JANUARY 13, 2009 (wcsu) - George Washington Carver (January 1864 - January 5, 1943), was an American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor whose studies and teaching revolutionized agriculture in the Southern United States. Much of Carver's fame is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts and sweet potatoes. © Copyright 2012, wcsu