Johann Philipp Reis
Johann Philipp Reis (January 7, 1834 - January 24, 1874), German inventor.Reis was born in Gelnhausen, Germany, as son to a Jewish baker. His parents died early, and he was raised by his grandmother. He studied mathematics and natural sciences on his own. In 1860, he constructed the first prototype of a telephone, covering a distance of 100 m. He did not manage to get people interested in his invention, however, and is was largely forgotten, except by Alexander Graham Bell, who demonstrated and patented an improved version of Reis' apparatus in 1876.
Besides Reis and Bell, Antonio Meucci and Elisha Gray both invented similar devices. Meucci was officially recognized as inventor of the telephone on September 25, 2001, by the US Congress.
