Alexander Graham
Bell: (March
3, 1847 – August 2, 1922) was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and
innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone.
Bell's father, grandfather, and
brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech, and both his mother and wife were
deaf, profoundly influencing Bell's life's work. His research on hearing and speech further led him
to experiment with hearing devices which eventually culminated in Bell being
awarded the first US patent for the telephone in 1876. In retrospect, Bell considered his most famous
invention an intrusion on his real work as a scientist and refused to have a
telephone in his study.
Many other inventions marked Bell's
later life, including groundbreaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils and aeronautics. In 1888, Bell became one of the founding members
of the National Geographic Society. He has been described as one of the most
influential figures in human history.
