Milton Bradley

Born in Vienna, Maine, in 1836, Milton Bradley grew up in Massachusetts and trained as a mechanical draftsman before moving into lithography. In Springfield, he opened what is described as the first color lithography shop in the state, a step that led him toward publishing and eventually game-making.

His breakthrough came with The Checkered Game of Life, a hugely successful 1860 board game that helped establish him as a pioneer of the American board game industry. Through the company that bore his name, he went on to produce games, puzzles, and other amusements that reached generations of children and families.

Bradley also took a strong interest in education. He became an advocate for the kindergarten movement in the United States and published educational materials and school supplies as well as games. He died in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1911, but his name remained closely tied to classic American play for decades afterward.