Thomas Edison: The Light Bulb

Growing up in school people were taught that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Obviously, after learning today, Edison was not the inventor of the light bulb, which is very shocking. After digging a little in research, he used the knowledge of previous researchers and inventors to make the first commercialized light bulb and gained credibility for inventing the light bulb. In my opinion, using other people knowledge and hardworking researcher does not define Edison as the creator of the light bulb.

Admittedly, there were about 20 inventors from across the world that had drafted various patents on inventing the light bulb (Ripleys).  So basically, other inventors were using previous inventors’ knowledge to improve the light bulb. For example, “Henry Woodward and Matthew Evan, successfully produced and patented an electric filament lamp before Edison had seriously turned his mind to electric lighting.” (Canadian Inventions-The Light Bulb). Unfortunately, due to the fact that Woodward and Evans were unsuccessful with financial backers, they sold their patents to Edison. In light of this example provided it is easy to see that, Edison was not the inventor some patents as claim to be. However, with Edison putting his knowledge into play and with the help all the other inventor’s knowledge together he was able to improve the patents of the light bulb and electrical filament lamp. However, that does not mean that he should get credit for inventing the light bulb.

No doubt, if anybody should be called the inventor of the light bulb, it should be Humphry Davy. In 1806, Humphry Davy started the trend with the idea of inventing the light bulb. Granted, long before Edison was even born to be exact. Davy’s demonstrated the ability of his electric lamp to the Royal Society, which the idea was great, but the light burned out quickly. Of course, that’s when all the other inventors came on board to add their expertise to invention of the light bulb.

Palermo, Elizabeth. “Who Invented the Light Bulb?” Livescience.Com, https://www.livescience.com/43424-who-invented-the-light-bulb.html.

“Canadian Inventions – The Light Bulb.” Deeth Williams Wall, https://www.dww.com/articles/canadian-inventions-%E2%80%93-light-bulb.