His legacy includes the lightning conductor, bifocal lenses, and, according to some, the first experiments in nanoscience. Benjamin FranklinĪs a founding father, Benjamin Franklin was one of the people who invented America! But the man now hailed as America’s first scientist was also a printer, an activist, a statesman and a diplomat-and above all a respected inventor and engineer. And where would fluid mechanics be today without that original Eureka moment? 5. We owe it to Archimedes for inventing the pulley, the lever, the catapult and the cog… not to mention the Archimedes screw. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists of classical antiquity. ArchimedesĪrchimedes was undoubtedly one of the big names of engineering in the 3 rd century BC. 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? 4. 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. Thomas EdisonĮdison was the archetypal inventor and epitomises the American spirit of inquiry and entrepreneurship. The list of his contributions to the world of engineering is virtually endless. He came up with designs for mechanical looms and hydraulic saws. Long before they were technically feasible, he invented the helicopter and the battle tank. Not content with being a Renaissance artist and a visionary scientist, he also stands out as one of history's most brilliant engineers. He was the father of Western philosophy and one of the first people to explain natural phenomena without reference to mythology-technically making him the world's first scientist too. Thales of miletusĬall us biased, but we think the top slot goes to Thales of Miletus, who lived in the 6 th century BC. Thales is a company that thrives on innovation-it's part of our genetic code, as the saying goes.ĭid you know we spend 2.5 billion euros on research every year and own the rights to 15,000 patents ? The great inventors of the past are a constant source of inspiration for all of us at Thales, so we've put together our very own list of the Top 10 inventors of all time.
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