Lewis Latimer, Inventor of the Light Bulb
“Like the light of the Sun it beautifies all things on which it shines, and is no less welcome in the palace than in the humblest home.” - Lewis Latimer’s poetic description of the Light Bulb
Thomas Edison is usually credited with inventing the light bulb even though he was not the first to conceptualize the idea nor build it. The reason Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the light bulb is because “History” credits him with inventing the first practical light bulb that the masses of people could use. Before Edison, electric light bulbs typically went out in a few minutes. After Edison, light bulbs were able to last for about half of a day. An improvement, yet not good enough for widespread use. Who wants to buy a light bulb every day?
It wasn’t until Lewis Latimer, who was the last born child of George and Rebecca Latimer (the married couple who became fugitives of the law after freeing themselves from slavery), invented a solution to Thomas Edison’s short lasting light bulb that electric light became feasible and practical for large scale adoption. After Lewis’s invention, light bulbs were able to reliably last for multiple weeks. A significant jump from lasting only 12 hours. This made the purchase of light bulbs by families, businesses, and the government much more affordable, reasonable, and practical.
Lewis Latimer, a child of former “fugitives” living in a land where the vast majority of people despised him simply due to the richness of his melanated skin, ushered in a new era in not only America, but the World. After his invention, Lewis supervised the installation of public light around the world; specifically in New York, Philadelphia, Canada, and London.
Through the power of reflection, creativity, and focus Lewis Latimer was able to transform our beliefs about what is possible. It is also important to remember if it wasn’t for his parents risking their lives, by escaping forced captivity on a Virginia plantation, Lewis Latimer would have been born into slavery. Unable to receive an education; unable to have time to think deeply and creatively; unable to serve in the army; unable to work anywhere other than the plantation.
If it wasn’t for Lewis Latimer, and even more importantly George and Rebecca Latimer, the world may still have been limited by the absence of light once the Sun set. And the electric light bulb may have remained a simple toy in the home of Thomas Edison and his friends and family.