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lewis latimer

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Lewis Howard Latimer (September 4, 1848 – December 11, 1928) was an African‑American inventor, draftsman, and patent expert whose work helped make electric lighting practical and more affordable.

Key points
- Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts; served in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.
- Worked as a draftsman and patent draftsman — he prepared technical drawings and patent documentation for inventors.
- Worked with Alexander Graham Bell and later joined companies associated with Thomas Edison.
- In 1881 he received a patent for an improved method of manufacturing carbon filaments for incandescent light bulbs. His improvements made filaments longer‑lasting and easier to produce, helping commercialize electric lighting.
- Authored a practical book on electric lighting (Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System) explaining how Edison's system worked.
- Active in civic life and an important figure in African‑American scientific and engineering history.

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