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(1848 - 1928) 
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Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In his early days, Latimer learned mechanical drawing while working in a patent office. Later, he was asked to develop an electric lamp that would be sold commercially. He created the carbon filament that glowed within the lamp and also developed a threaded wooden socket for light bulbs. In 1884, Latimer became the only African American member of Thomas Edison's "Pioneers" (a team of inventers). Although we use filaments made of tungsten in today's electric light bulbs, Latimer' work helped to spread the use of electric lights in the homes and on the streets of our cities. |