Inventors In the Industrial Revolution

Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla invented many important items including fluorescent lighting and the alternating current (AC) electrical power system. He also is credited with inventing the radio.

Samuel F. B. Morse

Samuel Morse invented the telegraph which greatly increased the ability of information to move from one location to another. Also Morse code

Charles Goodyear

Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber. This technique allowed rubber to have many more uses due to its ability to stand up to bad weather

Sir Humphrey Davy

English inventor of the Davy lamp. The lamp could be used by miners in areas where methane gas existed because the design prevented a flame escaping the fine gauze.

Michael Faraday

English scientist who helped convert electricity into a format that could be easily used. Faraday discovered benzene and also invented an early form of the Bunsen burner.

Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.This invention allowed communication to extend to individuals.

Cyrus McCormick

Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper which made the harvesting of grain more efficient and faster.

Dr. Richard Gatling

Dr. Richard Gatling invented a rudimentary machine gun that was used to a limited degree by the Union in the Civil War, but were later used extensively in the Spanish-American War.

Elias Howe/Isaac Singer

Elias Howe and Isaac Singer both were involved in the invention of the sewing machine.

Sir Richard Arkwright

English entrepreneur and 'father of the industrial revolution.' Arkwright was a leading pioneer in the spinning industry. He invented the spinning frame and was successful in using this in mass-scale factory production.

George Eastman

George Eastman invented the Kodak camera. This inexpensive box camera allowed individuals to take black and white pictures to preserve their memories

George Westinghouse

George Westinghouse held the patent to many important inventions. Two of his most important inventions were the transformer which allowed electricity to be sent over long distances and the air brake. The latter invention allowed conductors to have the ability to stop a train.

Thomas Edison

He invented phonograph, the incandescent light bulb, and the motion picture.

James Watt

His invention of a separate condensing chamber greatly improved the efficiency of steam. It enabled the steam engine to be used for a greater range of purpose than just pumping water.