Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell was born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland. ¹⁾

Bell's father and grandfather were both speech experts who worked with the deaf, which had a profound influence on Bell's career. ²⁾

In 1876, Bell was awarded the first US patent for the telephone, which he had invented earlier that year. ³⁾

Bell's famous quote, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you,” was the first complete sentence ever transmitted by telephone. ⁴⁾

Bell also invented the photophone, a device that transmitted sound on a beam of light. It was a precursor to fiber optic communication. ⁵⁾

Bell founded the Bell Telephone Company in 1877, which later became AT&T. ⁶⁾

Bell was also interested in aviation and invented a series of flying machines, including the tetrahedral kite and the Silver Dart airplane. ⁷⁾

Bell was a founding member of the National Geographic Society and served as its president from 1896 to 1904. ⁸⁾

Bell's work with the deaf led him to develop the audiometer, a device used to measure hearing ability. ⁹⁾

Bell was a prolific inventor and held over 18 patents during his lifetime. ¹⁰⁾

In addition to his work with the telephone, Bell also invented the metal detector, which was originally used to locate the bullet in President James Garfield's body after he was shot. ¹¹⁾

Bell's interest in speech led him to develop a phonetic alphabet called Visible Speech, which he used to teach the deaf to speak. ¹²⁾

Bell's wife, Mabel Gardiner Hubbard, was deaf, and their marriage played a significant role in his work with the deaf and his interest in developing technologies to aid communication. ¹³⁾

Bell died on August 2, 1922, in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, Canada. ¹⁴⁾