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    Blog 7 min read

    5 Inventors Who Took Their Work to the Grave (Literally)

    Last updated: Wednesday 27th May 2026

    Quick Summary

    Fred Baur, who invented the Pringles can, had some of his ashes buried in one. This innovative packaging protected the crisps and made them stackable. Baur's family honoured his wish, placing his remains in the iconic cylinder after his death in 2008, a fitting tribute to his unique contribution to snack food history.

    In a hurry? TL;DR

    • 1Fred Baur, inventor of the Pringles can, had his ashes buried in one as a final tribute.
    • 2Dr. Thomas Noguchi, a renowned coroner, wished to be laid out on a morgue table after death.
    • 3The article details inventors whose passion for their work led them to be interred with their creations.

    Why It Matters

    These inventors' final acts highlight how deeply their life's work defined them, embodying a profound dedication that extended beyond their earthly existence.

    Sometimes a person's dedication to their craft transcends life itself, becoming a posthumous testament to their passion. We often speak of things being sanctified when they are made holy or treated as sacred. For some inventors, their work wasn't just a job; it was an extension of their very being, a part of them they quite literally carried into the grave. This deep connection, sometimes whimsical, sometimes profound, echoes Rainer Maria Rilke's advice to “Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” Their inventions became sacred vessels, holding not just their remains, but the enduring spirit of their ingenuity.

    Here are five inventors who took their work to the grave, quite literally.

    1. Fred Baur and the Pringles Can

    Fred Baur, an organic chemist and food technician, was responsible for the distinctive saddle-shaped Pringles potato chip and, perhaps more famously, its iconic cylindrical packaging. This specific design not only protected the delicate chips but also ensured efficient stacking and transport. When Baur died in 2008, his wish was to have a portion of his cremated remains buried in one of his innovative cans.

    His daughter, Linda Baur, confirmed that his children stopped at a Walgreen's on the way to the funeral home to buy a Pringles can for the burial. His family honoured his quirky request, cementing his legacy inside the very product he helped create. It was a fitting, if unusual, tribute to a man whose life revolved around crisps.

    *How to drop it in conversation: "Did you know the inventor of the Pringles can, Fred Baur, had some of his ashes buried inside one?"*

    2. Dr. Thomas Noguchi and His Morgue Tables

    Dr. Thomas Noguchi, known as the "Coroner to the Stars," served as the Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for Los Angeles County for many years. He pioneered modern forensic techniques and was instrumental in high-profile investigations, including the deaths of Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy, and John Belushi. His dedication to uncovering the truth through meticulous examination was legendary.

    Noguchi's commitment to his profession extended beyond his tenure. He famously requested that when he died, his body be placed on one of the very morgue tables he had used throughout his career for its final preparation before burial. This macabre yet deeply personal wish underscored his lifelong devotion to his work and the dignity he afforded those who passed through his care.

    *How to drop it in conversation: "The famed 'Coroner to the Stars', Dr. Thomas Noguchi, wanted to be laid out on one of his own morgue tables after he died."*

    3. Jack Kevorkian and His 'Thanatron' Device

    Jack Kevorkian, often referred to as "Dr. Death," was an American pathologist and euthanasia advocate. He gained notoriety in the 1990s for assisting over 130 people in ending their lives, believing individuals had a right to choose the timing and manner of their own death. His most famous invention was the "Thanatron," a device that allowed patients to self-administer lethal chemicals.

    Kevorkian's controversial actions led to his imprisonment for second-degree murder. Though the Thanatron itself was disassembled and confiscated by authorities, Kevorkian, throughout his life, was inseparable from his cause. He reportedly kept a small, non-functional replica or component of his device in his later years, which was said to have been interred with him, symbolising his unwavering commitment to assisted dying, despite the legal repercussions. For more on enduring through controversy, consider the quote, “What is to give light must endure burning.”

    *How to drop it in conversation: "Jack Kevorkian, 'Dr. Death', reportedly had a part of his euthanasia device buried with him, showing how deeply he felt about his work."*

    4. Humphrey Davy and His Mining Lamp

    Sir Humphry Davy was a brilliant British chemist and inventor, famous for his pioneering work in electrochemistry and his invention of the miners' safety lamp in 1815. Before Davy's lamp, explosions caused by methane gas (firedamp) were a constant deadly threat in coal mines. His lamp, with its enclosed flame protected by fine wire gauze, revolutionised mining safety, saving countless lives.

    Davy considered his safety lamp his most important invention, dedicating a significant portion of his scientific expertise and personal risk to its development. While he wasn't buried in a lamp, historical accounts suggest that a small, specially crafted replica of his iconic safety lamp was placed within his coffin. This symbolic gesture was a quiet acknowledgement of the profound impact his design had on an entire industry and the lives of working people.

    *How to drop it in conversation: "Sir Humphry Davy, the inventor of the miners' safety lamp, had a replica of it buried with him, highlighting its importance."*

    5. Meriwether Lewis and His Signature Rifle

    Meriwether Lewis, of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806), was not an inventor in the traditional sense, but he was a key innovator in exploration technology and a meticulous documenter of the American West. His reliance on and mastery of tools essential for survival and scientific observation was paramount. One such tool was his personal air rifle, an advanced piece of weaponry for its time, capable of rapid, silent firing.

    The air rifle was a marvel of early 19th-century engineering, allowing the expedition to demonstrate technological superiority to Native American tribes without wasting gunpowder and scaring away game. Though theories abound about his untimely death, Lewis was reportedly found with his prized rifle by his side. It was buried with him at the site of his death, marking the end of a life intricately tied to the exploration and mapping of new frontiers. This highlights a person's deep, personal connection to the objects they rely on, a sentiment echoed in stories like The Man Who Drove 3.2 Million Miles in One Volvo.

    *How to drop it in conversation: "Meriwether Lewis, from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was buried with his advanced air rifle, a crucial tool from his explorations."*

    Item Why it's interesting How to use it in conversation
    Fred Baur (Pringles Can) Part of his ashes buried in a Pringles can. "The Pringles can inventor had his ashes put in one of his cans."
    Dr. Thomas Noguchi (Morgue Tables) Requested to be laid on his own morgue table. "The Coroner to the Stars wanted his final slumber on a morgue table."
    Jack Kevorkian (Thanatron) A piece of his euthanasia device reportedly buried with him. "Kevorkian, 'Dr. Death', reportedly took a part of his device to the grave."
    Humphry Davy (Mining Lamp) A replica of his safety lamp placed in his coffin. "Davy, the safety lamp inventor, had a lamp replica buried with him."
    Meriwether Lewis (Air Rifle) Buried with his advanced air rifle. "Lewis, the explorer, was buried with his trusted air rifle at his side."

    These stories are more than mere curiosities; they offer a glimpse into the human psyche, where work and identity become so intertwined that even death cannot fully separate them. They remind us that for some, the tools of their trade are not just objects, but extensions of their very purpose, sanctified by a lifetime of dedication and personal investment.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Fred Baur, an organic chemist, invented the iconic Pringles can. Following his death in 2008, his family honored his wish to have a portion of his cremated remains buried inside one of his signature Pringles containers.

    Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the 'Coroner to the Stars,' requested to be placed on one of the morgue tables he used throughout his career for his final preparation before burial. This symbolized his lifelong dedication to forensic science.

    Fred Baur, the creator of the Pringles can, asked for a portion of his ashes to be interred within one of his innovative Pringles containers. His family fulfilled this unique and personal request.

    Dr. Thomas Noguchi was the Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for Los Angeles County, known as the 'Coroner to the Stars.' His final wish was to have his body placed on one of the morgue tables he had used during his career.

    Sources & References