Who invented the light bulb(why do people think its Edison)?

Question

Im pretty sure Edison did not invent the first light bulb. Why do people claim that he did though?

Im writing a paper about U.S. inventions and im not very sure if i can use the light bulb. I am deciding to go with 'the practical light bulb' instead.

What should I say about Edison though?

Answer 1

Edison perfected the light bulb to make it practical, thus he gets the credit for it. Marketing makes it so

Answer 2

Did Thomas Edison really invent the light bulb?  



The history of the light bulb reads like a story straight out of a tabloid magazine. Contrary to what schools have taught for years, the American icon, Thomas Edison, neither invented the light bulb, nor held the first patent to the modern design of the light bulb.

Apparently, the we gave the esteemed Mr. Edison credit for the invention solely because he owned a power company, later known as General Electric, and a light bulb is just a bulb without a source of electricity to light it. In reality, light bulbs used as electric lights existed 50 years prior to Thomas Edison's 1879 patent date in the U.S.

Additionally, Joseph Swan, a British inventor, obtained the first patent for the same light bulb in Britain one year prior to Edison's patent date. Swan even publicly unveiled his carbon filament light bulb in New Castle, England a minimum of 10 years before Edison shocked the world with the announcement that he invented the first light bulb. Edison's light bulb, in fact, was a carbon copy of Swan's light bulb.

How do two inventors, from two different countries the invent exact same thing? Very easily, if one follows in the others footsteps. Swan's initial findings from tinkering with carbon filament electric lighting, and his preliminary designs, appeared in an article published by Scientific American.  Without a doubt, Edison had access to, and eagerly read this article. Giving Mr. Edison the benefit of the doubt, and stopping short of calling him a plagiarist, we can say that he invented the light bulb by making vast improvements to Swan's published, yet unperfected designs.

Swan, however, felt quite differently, as he watched Edison line his pockets with money made from his invention, and took Edison to Court for patent infringement. The British Courts stood by their patent award for the light bulb to Swan, and Edison lost the suit. The British Courts forced Edison, as part of the settlement, to name Swan a partner in his British electric company. Eventually, Edison managed to acquire all of Swans' interest in the newly renamed Edison and Swan United Electric Company.

Follow the link for the FULL story!

Answer 3

Edison was the one who developed and patented the carbon filament electric light in 1879.  He also purchased the rights to an earlier patent granted in 1876 to Canadian inventor Henry Woodward for the use of a rarefied gas bulb in which to burn the filament. Combining the two, Edison developed the light bulb design still in use today.

If you are looking for a "different creator" for the light bulb, do research on Thomas Woodward.