Lewis H. Latimer

Lewis H. Latimer —Inventor · Engineer · 1848–1928

Edison gets the bulb. Latimer made it last.

The son of escaped slaves, he patented a carbon-filament process that made electric light durable, affordable, and practical for everyday homes — then drafted the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone. His work quite literally helped light the world.

U.S. Patent No. 252,386 · January 17, 1882.