Inventors
Birth of John Ericsson
John (Johan) Ericsson was born on July 31, 1803, in Värmland, Sweden. He was an inventor and ship designer, most famous for his ironclad ship Monitor, which participated in the Civil War Battle of Hampton Roads.
Birth of Elias Howe
Inventor Elias Howe Jr was born on July 9, 1819, in Spencer, Massachusetts. Howe is best remembered for patenting the modern lockstitch sewing machine.
The First Telegraphic Message
On May 24, 1844, Samuel Morse sent the first message over telegraph. While in the Supreme Court chamber of the US Capitol, he sent the message “What hath God wrought!” over the telegraph to his assistant in Baltimore, Maryland.
Birth of Ottmar Mergenthaler
Inventor Ottmar Mergenthaler was born on May 11, 1854, in Hatchel, Kingdom of Württemberg (present-day Baden-Württemberg). Mergenthaler invented the linotype machine, which made it quicker and easier to set complete lines of type for printing presses, revolutionizing printing in the 19th century.
Goddard’s First Liquid-Fueled Rocket
On March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched his first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. Though his work went largely unrecognized during his lifetime, today he’s known as the father modern rocketry.
World’s First Telephone Call
On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first words by telephone, to his assistant in another room. Bell had received his patent for the telephone three days earlier.
Debut of World’s First Jukebox
On November 23, 1889, the world’s first jukebox was displayed and used at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco, California.
Birth of Samuel P. Langley
Samuel Pierpont Langley was born on August 22, 1834, in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Birth of George Eastman
Entrepreneur George Eastman was born on July 12, 1854, in Waterville, New York.