1. Nikola Tesla (1856 –1943)– Work on electro-magnetism and AC current. Credited with many patents from transmission of electricity to radio transmission.
2. Ben Franklin (1705 – 1790)- Discovered electricity and invented the Franklin stove
3. Johannes Gutenberg (1394-1468)- Invented the Modern Printing Press and started a publishing revolution. Since writing was invented thousands of years earlier in Sumer, it had been the domain of the Elite. Now learning, educating, inventing would be available to all mankind.
4. Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519)- Artist, Military Engineer, Civil Engineer, Anatomy Specialist, Codex on the Flight of Birds, Tanks, Helicopters, Single Span Bridges and “The Renaissance Man”.
5. Alexander Graham Bell (1847 – 1922)- Credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Also worked on optical telecommunications, aeronautics and hydrofoils.
6. Isaac Newton (1642 – 1726)- Invents Calculus, Builds the world’s first reflecting telescope. Publishes “Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica”.
7. The Wright Brothers – Successfully designed, built and flew the first powered aircraft, showing that man could fly. Opening up modern global transportation, business and commerce.
8. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)- Developed a powerful telescope. Discovered the principle of inertia, building the stage for a rational view of motion. Galileo observes moons of Jupiter, disproving church dogma that all movement in the universe is centered on Earth. Developed an improved compass.
9. Archimedes (287 BC – c. 212 BC)- Among other things worked out pi and developed the Archimedes screw for lifting up water from mines or wells.
10. Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931)- Edison 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.
Honorable Mention
Albert Einstein, Eli Whitney, Laszlo Biro
The Official 10 Best List 