Charles Franklin Kettering (August 29, 1876 – November 24 or 25, 1958) was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of
Delco, and was head of research at
General Motors from 1920 to 1947. Among his most widely used automotive developments were the electrical starting motor and
leaded gasoline. In association with the
DuPont Chemical Company, he was also responsible for the invention of
Freon refrigerant for
refrigeration and
air conditioning systems. At DuPont he also was responsible for the development of
Duco lacquers and enamels, the first practical colored paints for
mass-produced automobiles. While working with the
Dayton-Wright Company he developed the "
Bug" aerial torpedo, considered the world's first aerial missile. He led the advancement of practical, lightweight
two-stroke diesel engines, revolutionizing the
locomotive and
heavy equipment industries. In 1927, he founded the
Kettering Foundation, a non-partisan research foundation.