Russian engineer Ivan Polzunov
invented and built a steam engine in
1766. The machine worked well for
quite a while. Ivan Polzunov didn't
register his invention officially
because he died of pneumonia just
before his steam engine was
launched.
James Watt, a Scottish engineer,
launched his steam engine 10 years
later, in 1776. Yet, it's him who is
widely believed to be the inventor
of the steam engine because he did
all the paperwork properly.
Light Bulb
Since 1840s, around 20 inventors
from various countries patented a
light bulb.
Thomas Edison, a
U.S. scientist, patented his
first commercially successful bulb
in 1879. Yet, it is Thomas Edison
who is usually credited with the
invention of the light bulb. Why?
Because Thomas Edison bought the
patents of other inventors and
started
experimenting with various types
of filaments invented by others to
come out with one that would make a
lamp practical.