Elisha Gray

Elisha Gray was an American inventor born in Barnesville, Ohio. He is known for having invented a telephone at nearly the same time as another inventor, Alexander Graham Bell. Their dispute over who was the first inventor was never settled, although the U.S. Patent Office granted the patent to Bell, who also prevailed in court after many years of litigation. Gray eventually received patents for around 70 other inventions.

Gray studied for several years at Oberlin College and became interested in electricity. In 1867 he received a patent for an improved telegraph relay.

Gray co-founded the Western Electric Manufacturing Company in 1872, parent firm of the present Western Electric Company. After retiring, he continued to be active in research, invention and teaching. He died in Massachusetts in 1901.