Lewis Howard Latimer (September 4, 1848-December 11, 1928) was an African-American engineer and inventor who was a member of Edison's research team, which was called "Edison's Pioneers." Latimer improved the newly-invented incandescent light bulb by inventing a carbon filament (which he patented in 1881). read more
Inventor and engineer Lewis Howard Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1848. Latimer was the youngest of four children born to George and Rebecca Latimer, who had escaped from slavery in Virginia six years before his birth. read more
For 25 years, from 1903 until his death in 1928, Lewis Howard Latimer lived with his family in a home on Holly Avenue in what is now known as East Flushing section of Queens, New York. Lewis Howard Latimer died on December 11, 1928, at the age of 80. read more
Latimer developed many other inventions, including the first toilet that could be used in trains (1874, patent #147,363 - called "Water closet for railroad cars"), and a forerunner of the air conditioner (1886, patent # 334,078 - called "Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting"). read more