1753 - The lightning rod is invented (Benjamin Franklin, United States)

"Those of our Readers in this and the neighboring Provinces, who may have had an Opportunity of observing, during the present Summer, and of the Effects of Lightning on Houses, Ships, Trees, &c. are... Read MORE...

1784 - The bifocal lens is invented (Benjamin Franklin, United States)

"While living in Paris, Franklin hated having to change constantly from reading glasses to distance glasses. He directed an optician to cut two pairs of lenses horizontally in half and mount them in... Read MORE...

1784 - The oil lamp is invented (Aimé Argand, Switzerland)

"Argand burner, first scientifically constructed oil lamp, patented in 1784 in England by a Swiss, Aimé Argand. The first basic change in lamps in thousands of years, it applied a principle that was... Read MORE...

www.britannica.com -

1793 - The cotton gin is invented (Eli Whitney, United States)

"In 1793, Eli Whitney invented a simple machine that influenced the history of the United States. He invented a cotton gin that was popular in the South. The South became the cotton producing part... Read MORE...

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1800 - Electric storage battery is invented (Alessandro Volta, Italy)

...Probably the most important developments in the science of electricity started with the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta. This battery gave the world its first... Read MORE...

Tucson Daily Citizen - Tucson, Arizona - March 18, 1960

1817 - The bicycle is invented (Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun, Germany)

"... The first known bicyclist was the Comte de Sivrac, who was seen riding a two-wheel 'wooden horse' in Paris in 1791, the Smithsonian reports. Among its many drawbacks was that it was impossible... Read MORE...

Waukesha Daily Freeman - Waukesha, Wisconsin - May 26, 1977

1824 - Portland cement is invented (Joseph Aspdin, England)

One of the greatest commodities in the United States today is a greyish powder commonly sold in 50-pound bags for about 10 cents a pound.

Modern Portland cement has a rather short but fabulous... Read MORE...

The Times - Hammond, Indiana - October 23, 1957