Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and teacher who is best known for inventing the first practical telephone. Born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Bell spent much of his life in the United States where he conducted numerous experiments on sound and speech. He patented the invention of the telephone in 1876, forever changing the way people communicate. Bell was also a prominent figure in the field of deaf education, having worked extensively with deaf individuals and developing techniques to help those with hearing impairments communicate more effectively.