The Dark Side of Famous Inventors: Controversial Legacies
We celebrate inventors like Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell as geniuses who changed the world—but behind their brilliant minds often lay ruthless ambition, unethical behaviour, and even cruelty. Here’s the untold, darker side of history’s most famous inventors. 1. Thomas Edison: The Merciless Competitor The Myth: The "Wizard of Menlo Park", father of the light bulb, and prolific inventor. The Dark Truth: - Stole ideas from rivals like Nikola Tesla. - Faked inventions in public demos (like the electric pen). - Electrocuted animals (including an elephant) to discredit Tesla’s AC power. - Ruined competitors through smear campaigns and lawsuits. Legacy: A brilliant innovator—but also a ruthless businessman who crushed competition at any cost. 2. Alexander Graham Bell: Eugenics Advocate The Myth: Inventor of the telephone and champion of the deaf (his wife and mother were deaf). The Dark Truth: - Supported eugenics, believing deaf people should not marry or have childre...