Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), Scottish inventor. A teacher of elocution and speech correction, Bell went to live in Canada in 1870. He developed a method of teaching speech to the deaf and in 1873 became professor of vocal physiology at Boston University. In 1876 he obtained a patent for the telephone, which he had developed during long evening sessions with the mechanic Thomas Watson. He subsequently spent much time in legal action against infringement of the patent. Bell’s other inventions included the photo-phone, a device that transmitted sound on a beam of light, and the graphophone, which recorded sound on wax discs. He also carried out research in the field of aerodynamics, conducting experiments with giant kites and hydrofoils.