The invention of the light bulb was a gradual process with multiple contributors over many decades.
- The foundation for the modern light bulb was laid as early as 1802 by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy, who created the first arc lamp by passing electricity through carbon filaments.
- In 1840, Joseph Wilson Swan presented the first practical incandescent light bulb with a carbonized paper conductor and patented it in 1860.
- Thomas Edison is credited with developing the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb in 1879. On October 22, 1879, Edison and his team "perfected" the light bulb by using a carbonized bamboo filament that lasted about 1200 hours.
- Edison received a patent for his improved electric lamp on January 27, 1880, which enabled widespread domestic use of electric light. His work made electric lighting affordable and practical for everyday use.
In summary, while the idea and some early versions of the light bulb existed earlier, the invention of the practical and commercially successful incandescent light bulb is mainly attributed to Thomas Edison in 1879-1880.
