In 1854, he ascended in an elevator cradled in an open-sided shaft. Halfway up, he had he hoisting cable cut with an axe. The platform held fast and the elevator industry was on its way. Who was he?

Elisha Graves Otis demonstrated his elevator safety invention in 1854 by riding an open-sided elevator and having the cable cut mid-ascent. The safety brake engaged and held the platform, proving elevators could be made safe. This demonstration launched the modern elevator industry and the Otis Elevator Company became dominant.