7 Forgotten Inventors Who Never Got the Credit They Deserved
Over the years, inventors have made huge advances to create the world we live in today. While some have staked their names in history and textbooks, other inventors did not get the due they deserved, and many of those created the technologies we use today. This may be due to their class, lack of clout, or not from the right nation, but there is no doubt about their inventing prowess. Below are seven forgotten inventors who never got the credit they deserved.
7. Benjamin Bradley – High-Powered Steam Engine
Starting our list of forgotten inventors is Benjamin Bradley, making his impact on the world of steam engines. Born into slavery in Maryland in the mid-19th century, Bradley faced limited education opportunities but eventually taught himself engineering. Even though he was unable to legally patent his inventions, Bradley sold his high-powered steam engine and bought his freedom. The steam engine was a popular choice for ships, locomotives, and other large machinery.
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6. Mary Van Brittan – Home Security System
Next up on our forgotten inventors list is Mary Van Brittan. Born in 1922, Van Brittan invented a home security system and patented it in 1966. Van Brittan was concerned with the high crime rate in her apartment building and helped fix the problem with a closed-circuit television that residents could monitor from inside their homes. Her contributions revolutionized home security and led to more advanced systems. Unfortunately, she received little or no recognition for her work.
5. Dr. Charles Drew – Blood Banks
Fifth on our list of forgotten inventors is Dr. Charles Drew, who transformed modern medicine by pioneering the field of blood transfusions. Born in 1904 in Washington D.C., Drew was the first African American to be appointed as an examiner in surgery by the National Board of Medical Examiners. During WWII, he directed the Blood for Britain project, storing blood from donors to help injured soldiers. This led to the creation of blood banks, saving numerous lives.
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4. Garrett A. Morgan – Gas Mask
Coming in fourth on our list of forgotten inventors is Garrett A. Morgan. Born in Kentucky in 1877, Morgan was an African-American credited with several important inventions in the public safety world, specifically the gas mask and the traffic signal. The gas mask was patented in 1914 and has been used by first responders ever since to protect them against smoke and gas inhalation. The three-position traffic signal was patented in 1923, and helped prevent on-road accidents and reduce traffic congestion.
3. Heinrich Hertz – Radio
Rounding out our top three forgotten inventors is the German physicist Heinrich Hertz, who is often pushed behind Marconi or Tesla when it comes to transmitting electromagnetic waves. Hertz started experimenting in 1886, nearly a decade before Marconi’s public demonstrations and was successfully able to observe and transmit electromagnetic waves for the first time. It is often speculated that Hertz didn’t get as much recognition because his experiments were never transferred outside of the lab and applied to the “real world.”
2. Joseph Swan – Light Bulb
Second on our list of forgotten inventors is Joseph Swan, a man often hidden behind Thomas Edison’s shadow. While the final rod that allowed the light bulb to stay lit for a few minutes was invented by Edison, it wouldn’t have been possible without Joseph Swan’s contributions years prior. Swan knew carbon was needed for a successful rod, but during that time, the vacuums weren’t strong enough, and he set the invention aside until the 1870s when the vacuums were improved. Towards the end it was a race, with Edison finding the perfect thickness for the carbon rod and applying his patent before Swan.
1. Elisha Gray – Telephone
Last but not least on our list of forgotten inventors is Elisha Gray. Battling with Alexander Graham Bell to the Patent Office, history reminds us who got the credit for the invention of the telephone. Gray had been working on a transmitting device for years, and on February 14, his lawyer turned in paperwork to the Patent Office. Sitting at the bottom of the pile, somehow, Bell’s paperwork was pushed to the front, and he received the patent first.
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