Lewis Latimer

Lewis Latimer (1848-1928) was connected to some of the most important inventions of the 19th century. Born to parents who had been formerly enslaved, Latimer enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Afterward, he became a draftsman specializing in mechanical drawing and patents. He produced the drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s patent for the telephone, but he is most well known for his association with the incandescent light bulb, contributing to Thomas Edison’s patent.

In 1881, Latimer invented durable carbon filaments that helped make electric lighting more practical and affordable for the average citizen. He would go on to oversee the installation of electric street lighting and electrical plants in cities across the U.S., Canada, and the UK.

He developed other inventions to help improve quality of life, like an evaporative air conditioner and an improved toilet system for railroad cars. Latimer’s legacy as an important African American inventor, engineer, and poet is preserved through the Lewis Latimer House Museum in New York City.