Table of Contents

Alexander Graham Bell

Born in 1847

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

Family influence

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

Patent for the telephone

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

Mr. Watson, come here

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

Photophone

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

AT&T

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

Interested in aviation

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

National Geographic Society

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

Audiometer

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

Patents

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

Invented the metal detector

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)

Visible Speech

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)

Mabel Gardiner Hubbard

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)

Died in 1922

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