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Canada Tells U.S. That Inventor Bell No Phony
Sat Jun 22,11:12 AM ET
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada answered the call on Friday and proclaimed that Alexander Graham Bell is the inventor of the telephone, no matter what the U.S. Congress says.
According to North American history books, Bell, who emigrated to Canada from Scotland, developed the idea for the device at his family's homestead in Brantford, Ontario. He received a U.S. patent in 1876.
Canadian lawmakers rose to Bell's defense after the U.S. Congress passed a resolution saying credit actually belongs to Antonio Meucci, who immigrated to the United States from Italy.
Meucci filed notice of an impending invention in 1871 with U.S. authorities but was too poor to renew the claim in 1874, allowing Bell to get the patent and the credit, according the congressional resolution.
Canadian Heritage Minister Copps said U.S. lawmakers are trying to rewrite history for political benefit.
"(Bell) is an inspiring example of a Canadian inventor who, by his ingenuity and his perseverance, contributed to the advancement of knowledge and the progress of humanity," Copps said.
The Canadian House of Commons approved a resolution on Friday officially recognizing Bell as the telephone's inventor. Like the one passed by U.S. lawmakers, it carries only ceremonial weight.
Sat Jun 22,11:12 AM ET
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada answered the call on Friday and proclaimed that Alexander Graham Bell is the inventor of the telephone, no matter what the U.S. Congress says.
According to North American history books, Bell, who emigrated to Canada from Scotland, developed the idea for the device at his family's homestead in Brantford, Ontario. He received a U.S. patent in 1876.
Canadian lawmakers rose to Bell's defense after the U.S. Congress passed a resolution saying credit actually belongs to Antonio Meucci, who immigrated to the United States from Italy.
Meucci filed notice of an impending invention in 1871 with U.S. authorities but was too poor to renew the claim in 1874, allowing Bell to get the patent and the credit, according the congressional resolution.
Canadian Heritage Minister Copps said U.S. lawmakers are trying to rewrite history for political benefit.
"(Bell) is an inspiring example of a Canadian inventor who, by his ingenuity and his perseverance, contributed to the advancement of knowledge and the progress of humanity," Copps said.
The Canadian House of Commons approved a resolution on Friday officially recognizing Bell as the telephone's inventor. Like the one passed by U.S. lawmakers, it carries only ceremonial weight.
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