James F. D. Lanier

Historical marker location:

511 West First Street, Madison, Indiana

( Marker is at the intersection of Elm Street and West First Street, on the right when traveling south on Elm Street.)

Marker installed: 1963

1800-1881.

The first public demonstration of the electric light bulb was given by Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, New Jersey, but the first practical incandescent light bulb was invented by Lewis Howard Latimer, who was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, but lived in Indiana for a time. Latimer was also the first African American to be employed as an engineer by the U.S. Patent Office.