The invention of television

Philo T. Farnsworth, a farm boy of 14 conceived the idea of an electronic television system while plowing a potato field in Rigby Idaho in 1920. On week-days he rode a horse four miles to high school. He drew the idea for his teacher, a Mr Tolman a year later. Tolman kept that drawing.

It took Farnsworth most the rest of his life and endless patent fights thought the courts to bring his idea to commercial success. He had a hard life, he was cheated out of riches by big business, but nothing can take away his claim to fame. He thought of it first.

Thanks to Bill Gerritz for lending THE LAST LONE INVENTOR, by Evan Schwartz.

Farnsworth's patent