Profession: Inventor
Why Famous: Credited with inventing the first practical telephone. He considered his most famous invention an intrusion on his real work as a scientist, however, and refused to have a telephone in his study.
Born: March 3, 1847
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Star Sign: Pisces
Died: August 2, 1922 (aged 75)
Cause of Death: Complications from diabetes
Articles and Photos
Alexander Graham Bell Patents the Telephone
The original drawing filed with Thomas Edison's patent application for the telephone
March 7, 1876Telephone Invention Dispute? That Rings a Bell
There was fierce competition among 19th Century inventors to come up with a working telephone. Alexander Graham Bell won and was granted a patent on this day.
March 7, 1876Mr. Watson come here, I want you
Alexander Graham Bell spoke only briefly by phone to his assistant on this day in 1876, but it proved to be a pioneering moment in telecoms history.
March 10, 1876Thomas Edison's Phonograph
Thomas Edison with his second phonograph, photographed in 1878
November 21, 1877
Married Life
- 1877-07-11 Scientist and inventor Alexander Graham Bell (30) weds Mabel Hubbard (19) at the Hubbard estate in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Historical Events
- 1875-06-02 Alexander Graham Bell makes first sound transmission
- 1876-03-07 Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for the telephone in the US
- 1876-03-10 First telephone call; Alexander Graham Bell says "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" to his assistant Thomas Watson
- 1881-01-25 Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company.
- 1915-01-25 Alexander Graham Bell in NY calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco
Biographies and Sources
- Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) - Science Hall of Fame, National Library of Scotland
Alexander Cartwright
Christopher Latham Sholes
Gustaf Dalén
Isaac Pitman
Louis-Jacques Daguerre
Ray Kurzweil