Nancy Maria Johnson (née Donaldson; December 28, 1794 – April 22, 1890) was awarded the first US patent for a hand-cranked ice cream freezer in 1843.

Her simple invention launched a “disruptive technology” that made it possible for everyone to make quality ice cream without electricity.

Starting in 1862, Johnson and her sister Mary taught freed slaves in South Carolina, as part of the Port Royal Experiment.

The family is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[1] Ice cream was originally made using very intensive labor and it often took one individual hours to make.

[9] Harnessing the principles of thermodynamics and endothermic reactions,[10] Johnson’s Artificial Freezer was very effective in making ice cream.

Johnson also was able to create the Artificial Freezer so that when using a border to split the machine down the middle, two different flavors of ice cream could be cranked and made at the same time.

[18] Some of the improvements included a similar internal spatula covered with holes, however, the mechanics of the handle were changed make the ice cream much cooler, also simultaneously speeded up the process of freezing.