The Light Bulb

            Many believe that the inventor of the incandescent light bulb was the American Thomas Edison. However, it was not, Edison actually used the work from two Torontonians to further develop the light bulb they created. One night in 1873, medical student Henry Woodward and hotel employee Matthew Evans were playing around with a battery and an induction coil and noticed a spark. This was a physical spark that one can see and also a spark in the world of science and technology. The two then went ahead with the idea of creating electric light and they succeeded when they created an incandescent light bulb. Their light bulb which was able to keep air out and nitrogen in was demonstrated at Morrison’s Brass Foundry in what is now downtown Toronto. In 1874 the two took out a patent for what they hoped to become a consumer product, however, they could not find buyers as the possible financers were worried about the production costs. This led to the separation of Woodward and Evans. Within the next few years in the United States, Thomas Edison bought patents including Woodward’s American patent which was created in 1876. By 1879, Thomas Edison had used the work of others and created a light bulb that could last over 13 hours, with that, many scientists such as Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans were soon forgotten. Woodward and Evans’ incandescent light bulb was the first functional bulb to be created; it’s a pity that not much credit is given to them. Their light bulb consisted of a nitrogen-filled glass tube with a piece of carbon attached to two wires.

            This invention interests me because I see the use of this invention every day in my life. What we see today may not be what was created during the 1870’s, but its design is based off of that. The light bulb has got to be one of the best inventions ever, everywhere you go you see electrical light produced by light bulbs. From the homes of the rich and famous to the street lights on the streets, all of their light bulbs are based upon the light bulb created by Canadians, Woodward and Evans. Without light bulbs, imagine what the world would be like, businesses would have to close earlier and you’d have to forget about 24 hour businesses. Everyone would be forced to go to bed much earlier and cars would not even exist. How would cities like New York, Los Angeles and Toronto have nearly as much night activity as they do today? Less work would be accomplished during 24 hours which means time would be wasted in the world we have today. Without Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans, our lives would be much more challenging and uncomfortable as many aspects of our lives are affected by this Canadian invention. Oil lamps such as Kerosene lamps would not nearly be sufficient for our needs.

            Forgotten scientists like Woodward and Evans should be applauded for their work, even though an incandescent light bulb may seem basic for many of our scientists today. In the 1870’s, the light bulb was cutting-edge technology, imagine how life changed for the people of that time. It must’ve been similar to the changes endured with the invention of the computer, which resulted in a much simpler life. Today, this great Canadian invention is being phased out with the creation of LEDs and Fluorescent Light bulbs, but if Woodward and Evans had not added their contribution to science and technology, would we have the aforementioned newer types of lighting?

Sources Used

The light bulb was invented by Henry Woodward, not Thomas Edison. So why is Edison’s name in all the history books?

http://www.omg-facts.com/Technology/The-Light-Bulb-Was-Invented-By-Henry-Woo/52222

Toronto Invents: The Incandescent Light Bulb

http://torontoist.com/2013/02/toronto-invents-the-incandescent-light-bulb/
Everything Canadian - Henry Woodward: The True Inventor Of The Light Bulb

http://www.thealgomanews.ca/Columns/Other+Columns/Everything+Canadian+-+Henry+Woodward%3A+The+True+Inventor+of+the+Light+bulb.str?12852
The History of the Incandescent Lightbulb

http://www.1on1tutoringlive.com/files/la2.htm