Who Really Invented The Light Bulb, Thomas Edison Or Joseph Swan?
Sir Thomas Edison has the invention of the light bulb attributed to his name, having obtained a patent for the device in 1862. However, in 1882 he was served with a court order by Joseph Swan. The charge was infringement of patenting rights. Joseph Swan had actually patented the idea in the UK in1861. This patent was for an incandescent lamp that required a carbon filament and a vacuum. The device was unsuccessful due to a poor electricity source and the vacuum being insufficient. He obtained a second patent in the UK in 1878, based on an improved version. Edison is thought to have invented the light bulb in 1879. However, Swan had been installing devices in homes during this year, and founded his Swan Electric Light Company in 1881. Edison had, therefore, only improved upon the idea already patented. This was reflected in the court’s decision to make Edison and Swan merge to become Edison and Swan United Company.
