Where would we be without our computers, modern medicine, airplanes, and all the various other inventions that make our lives much easer? Inventions can be either huge flops, or they can be some of the most influential things in the world that change countless lives. With science and engineering, mankind has accomplished so much and has made some pretty incredible inventions. But what about the people behind some of these inventions? We are going to take a look at a list of ten of the most influential inventors of all time.
10. Archimedes
The ancient Greeks really had a lot of things figured out, and Archimedes can easily be considered one of the most influential inventors of all time. While not too much is known about him, he was born in 287 B.C. and died around 212 B.C. During his lifetime Archimedes accomplished many things as a scientist, inventor, engineer, and a mathematician. He is credited with inventing things like the pulley, the cog, the Archimedes screw, and many other inventions. Given the time period that he lived in, he really accomplished so much.
9. James Watt
James Watt was certainly one of the most influential inventors of all time thanks to his contributions. He was born in Scotland in 1736 and became interested with science and engineering at a young age. When he attended the University of Glasgow he became extremely fascinated with steam power. Watt would then go on to develop the modern steam engine, which then lead to the industrial revolution around the world. Yeah, he was kind of a big deal.
7. Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist who accomplished so many things in his lifetime. Among them he was known to develop the methods to pasteurize consumable goods. Additionally his most notable invention would be the vaccine as he is known as the father of vaccinations, and as we know, vaccinations have been used to save millions of humans from deadly diseases.
6. Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage is often referred to as the “father of computers”. Although he lived during the 1800’s, he invented the worlds first mechanical computer and pioneered the concept of programable computers. While these computers were nothing like the ones we have today, without Babbage’s contributions we would not have modern computers.
5. Sir Tim Berners-Lee
Since we just mentioned computers, we might as well talk about Sir Tim Berners Lee. In addition to contributing to many breakthroughs in programming and software design, Berners-Lee is also credited with inventing the World Wide Web as we know it. Obviously this has been one of the most important and influential invention of all time, which is why he’s on our list.
4. The Wright Brothers
Orville and Wilbur Wright were two brothers in the 20th century who wanted to prove and attain what man has always dreamed of: sustained flight. They are well-known to have designed, created, and flown the first airplane that was heavier than air and one that could sustain flight.
3. Alexander Bell
Alexander Bell was a Scottish inventor who contributed many things to modern society. He made many advancements in optical telecommunications, aeronautics, and hydrofoils. While all of those things are important, Alexander Bell is best known to have invented the worlds first practical telephone. Once telephone lines were established, they were an extremely influential invention that forever changed how people interact with each other.
2. Leonardo da Vinci
The phrase “Renaissance Man” can easily be traced to Leonardo da Vinci as he was one of the most intelligent thinkers of all time. He was a painter, a scientist, a mathematician, an inventor, and engineer, a writer, a botanist, and many other things. It seems that da Vinci was capable of doing pretty much anything. Over his lifetime he engineered and designed things like the helicopter, the tank, submarines, airplanes, the parachute, and many other…all back in the late 1400’s. Many of his inventions have been proved to work and he was lightyears ahead of his time.
1. Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison was definitely one of the most influential inventors of all time, and during his lifetime he filed for around 1,000 patents. He is credited with inventing many things including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and most importantly the worlds first practical lightbulb. Edison took use out from the dark and into the light, literally. That simple invention proved to be extremely beneficial, and changed mankind forever.
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