There have been inventors who brought in several important technological inventions, for the betterment of mankind. Innovation is the process of creating something new that makes life better. Innovation is impossible without passion. Innovators see the world differently. Innovators end up becoming obsessed with taking the world from as it is to as it should be. They become obsessed with making the world better. Many innovators in the for-profit sector focus incessantly on bringing value to the market. Others focus incessantly on the core research needed to push the human race forward. Regardless of the sectors we play in, we are all relentlessly focused on solving problems and creating a better world than the one that exists today.

Below is the list of the most important Top 15 Inventors and their inventions that made a great impact on humanity and the way we live, even today.

15 Famous inventors:

Archimedes (287 BCE – c. 212 BCE):

Archimedes of Syracuse was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Amongst other things he calculated pi and developed the Archimedes screw for lifting up water from mines or wells.

Cai Lun(50–121 CE):

Chinese inventor of paper. Cai Lun was a Chinese political administrator credited with inventing modern paper and inventing the paper-making process. His invention included the use of raw materials such as bark, hemp, silk and fishing net. The sheets of fibre were suspended in water before removing for drying.

Galileo (1564–1642):

Italian scientist. Galileo developed a powerful telescope and confirmed revolutionary theories about the nature of the world. Also developed an improved compass.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1726):

English scientist. Newton invented the reflecting telescope. This greatly improved the capacity of telescopes and reduced optical distortion. Newton was also a great physicist and astronomer.

Benjamin Franklin (1705–1790):

American polymath who discovered electricity and invented the Franklin stove,  the lighting rod and bifocals. Franklin was also an American statesman and an influential figure in the development of modern America.

William Cullen (1710–1790):

Scottish physician and chemist. He is credited with inventing the basis for the first artificial refrigerator, although it took others to make his designs suitable for practical use.

Charles Babbage (1791–1871):

English mathematician and inventor. Babbage created the first mechanical computer, which proved to be the prototype for future computers. Considered to be the ‘Father of Computers,’ despite not finishing a working model.

William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877):

British Victorian pioneer of photography. He invented the first negative, which could make several prints. He is known for inventing the calotype process (using Silver Chloride) of taking photographs.

Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1812–1878):

Scottish inventor of the pedal bicycle. Kirkpatrick’s contribution was to make a rear wheel driven bicycle through the use of a chain, giving the basic design for the bicycle as we know it today.

Alexander Bell (1847–1922):

Scottish scientist were credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Also worked on optical telecommunications, aeronautics and hydrofoils.

Thomas Edison (1847–1931):

American inventor who filed over 1,000 patents. He developed and innovated a wide range of products from the electric light bulb to the phonograph and motion picture camera. One of the greatest inventors of all time.

Nikola Tesla (1856–1943):

American Physicist who invented fluorescent lighting, the Tesla coil, the induction motor, 3-phase electricity and AC electricity.

The Wright Brothers (1871–1948):

American inventors who successfully designed, built and flew the first powered aircraft in 1903.

Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913):

German inventor of the Diesel engine. Diesel sought to build an engine which had much greater efficiency. This led him to develop a diesel powered combustion engine.

John Logie Baird (1888–1946):

Scottish inventor who invented the television and the first recording device.