Dr. John Gorrie (1803-1855) was an early pioneer in the invention of the artificial manufacture of ice, refrigeration, and air conditioning. He was granted the first U.S. patent for mechanical refrigeration on May 6, 1851 (U.S. Patent No. 8080). After completing his education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York in Fairfield, New York, he moved to Apalachicola in 1833. Motivated by a severe yellow fever epidemic in the summer of 1841, he and his predecessors believed the fever was caused by heat, humidity, and decaying vegetation, and he sought a cure by introducing cold through refrigeration, holding that nature ended fevers with the changing seasons. In May 1844, he constructed the refrigeration device that received the patent, but leakage and irregular performance impaired its operation. At various times he served as a physician of the Marine Hospital Service, Postmaster, President of the Apalachicola Branch Bank of Pensacola, Mayor, Secretary of the Masonic Lodge, and founding vestryman of Trinity Episcopal Church. The State of Florida later honored him with a statue in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.