Who invented the most things in the world

Long before they were technically feasible, he invented the helicopter and the battle tank. He came up with designs for mechanical looms and hydraulic saws. He drew plans for submarines and robots. The list of his contributions to the world of engineering is virtually endless.

Edison was the archetypal inventor and epitomises the American spirit of inquiry and entrepreneurship. A shrewd businessman with unbridled imagination, he is credited with thousands of inventions, including the phonograph, the electric light bulb, the telephone although Alexander Graham Bell made it to the patent office first on that occasion , the movie camera, the microphone and alkaline batteries. Did you know that Thomson, one of the companies that later became the Thales Group, was set up to exploit some of Edison's patents?

Archimedes was undoubtedly one of the big names of engineering in the 3 rd century BC. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists of classical antiquity. We owe it to Archimedes for inventing the pulley, the lever, the catapult and the cog… not to mention the Archimedes screw. And where would fluid mechanics be today without that original Eureka moment? As a founding father, Benjamin Franklin was one of the people who invented America!

His legacy includes the lightning conductor, bifocal lenses, and, according to some, the first experiments in nanoscience. These two tie for 6 th place in our list because they both made discoveries that are still saving millions of lives today. Frenchman Louis Pasteur was the first microbiologist. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email.

Mary Bellis. Inventions Expert. Mary Bellis covered inventions and inventors for ThoughtCo for 18 years. She is known for her independent films and documentaries, including one about Alexander Graham Bell. Updated December 20, Featured Video. Changing the World It's no coincidence that some of the most famous inventors come from all walks of life.

Cite this Article Format. Bellis, Mary. History's 15 Most Popular Inventors. Important Innovations and Inventions, Past and Present. The Inventors Behind the Creation of Television. The Most Important Inventions of the 19th Century. August Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays. Mechanical Television History and John Baird. Historical Significance of the Cotton Gin. September Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays. Your Privacy Rights.

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If we use as the prime criteria 'improving the standard of living', the author presents with temerity the following top 10 list:. Sources: Edge Foundation, Inc. Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions. New York: Dorling Kindersley,