Henry Ford (1863-1947) was an American industrialist and inventor who founded the Ford Motor Company and revolutionized the automobile industry with the introduction of the assembly line. He is known for his innovations in manufacturing, including the use of interchangeable parts and the development of mass production techniques that made automobiles affordable for middle-class Americans. Ford was also a controversial figure, known for his anti-Semitic views and his opposition to labor unions. Despite this, his impact on the automobile industry and American society as a whole cannot be understated, and he remains a significant historical figure to this day.