Charles Goodyear was an American inventor best known for developing the process of vulcanization, which made rubber more durable and elastic. Born on December 29, 1800, in New Haven, Connecticut, he faced many challenges, including financial difficulties and legal battles, while pursuing his work with rubber. His breakthrough came in 1839 when he discovered that heating rubber with sulfur improved its properties significantly. This innovation laid the foundation for the modern rubber industry and led to the establishment of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, named in his honor after his death in 1860.