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Year:1882​

Who: Lewis H. Latimer (1848 – 1928)​

Where: New York​

What: In 1848, Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to parents who had escaped slavery. After serving in the Union Navy during the Civil War, he found work as an office boy at a Boston patent law firm. There, his extraordinary drafting skills caught the attention of his employers, earning him to the position of head draftsman.

Latimer's technical precision soon led him to a pivotal role in history: creating the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone. His meticulous work not only secured Bell’s patent but also cemented Latimer’s reputation as an expert in drafting and innovation.

By the 1880s, Latimer had shifted his focus to electrical engineering. Joining the United States Electric Lighting Company, a competitor to Thomas Edison, he contributed one of his most significant innovations: a more durable and cost-effective carbon filament for light bulbs. This invention revolutionized incandescent lighting, making it practical and affordable for everyday use. Homes and businesses around the world were transformed, as Latimer's design provided a safer and more efficient alternative to gas lamps and arc lighting.

Latimer’s expertise extended beyond invention. He oversaw the installation of electric lighting systems in major cities across the United States, Canada, and England, and later joined Edison Electric Light Company. There, he worked as a patent investigator and expert witness, protecting key innovations in electrical technology.

Despite facing racial barriers, Latimer’s contributions to engineering and innovation shaped modern life. His advancements in lighting technology and his work with pioneers like Bell and Edison secured his legacy as a key figure in the second Industrial Revolution.

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