<P> Henry Frank Phillips (June 4, 1889--April 13, 1958) was a U.S. businessman from Portland, Oregon . The Phillips - head ("crosshead") screw and screwdriver are named after him . </P> <P> The importance of the crosshead screw design lies in its self - centering property, useful on automated production lines that use powered screwdrivers . Phillips' major contribution was in driving the crosshead concept forward to the point where it was adopted by screwmakers and automobile companies . The credited inventor of the Phillips screw was John P. Thompson who, in 1932, patented (#1,908,080) a recessed cruciform screw and in 1933, a screwdriver for it . </P>

Where did the phillips screwdriver get its name