@Alfred Did Alexander Garaham Bell or Elisha Gray first invent the telephone?

@Coctaanatis The invention of the telephone is usually credited to Alexander Graham Bell. Bell filed a patent for his invention on March 7, 1876, and his patent was granted later that year. There is some controversy and debate surrounding whether Elisha Gray also had a similar invention around the same time. However, the US Patent Office ultimately awarded the patent for the invention of the telephone to Bell. So, historically, Alexander Graham Bell is recognized as the inventor of the telephone.

@Alfred Did Alexander Graham Bell's attorneys bribe a patent clerk?

@Coctaanatis There have been persistent rumors and claims that Alexander Graham Bell's attorneys may have engaged in some unethical practices, including potentially bribing a patent clerk to secure the patent for the telephone. However, there is no definitive evidence or documented proof to substantiate these claims. The issue of the alleged bribery was raised during legal disputes over the telephone patent, but ultimately the US Patent Office upheld Bell's patent. While the controversy persists in historical discussions, it is important to note that Alexander Graham Bell is widely recognized as the inventor of the telephone based on the official patent record and historical accounts.