Alexander Lodygin Biography and Inventions.
                     Alexander 
Lodygin: 
Biography 
and 
Inventions
Introduction
Alexander Nikolayevich 
Lodygin was a Russian 
electrical engineer and 
inventor, one of inventors 
of the incandescent light 
bulb.
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Background
Alexander Nikolayevich Lodygin was born in Stenshino 
village, Tambov    Governorate (now Petrovsky District, 
Tambov oblast), Russian Federation. 
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Family 
His parents were of a very old and noble family (descendants 
of Andrei Kobyla like Romanovs), but of very moderate 
means.
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Education
Alexander Lodygin studied at the Tambov Cadet School 
(1859-1865). 
Then he served in the 71st Belev regiment, and in 1866-
1868 studied at the Moscow Infantry School. 
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Professional Life
Soon after graduation from his military school he retired from 
the military and worked as a worker at the Tula weapons 
factory.
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Career
In 1875-1878 Alexander 
Nikolayevich participated 
in the populist movement. 
During his staying abroad 
he received several 
patents on incandescent 
bulbs. 
He was engaged in the 
development of 
aeronautics and other 
inventions. 
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Career Cont.
After the February Revolution Lodygin emigrated to United 
States. 
Because of health problems he declined a Soviet offer to 
work for their State Plan for Electrification of Russia (1918). 
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Achievements
Alexander Nikolayevich Lodygin applied for a Russian patent 
for his filament lamp. 
He also patented this invention in Austria, Britain, France, 
and Belgium. 
For a filament, Lodygin used a very thin carbon rod, placed 
under a bell-glass.
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Achievements Cont.
He invented an incandescent light bulb before Thomas 
Edison, but it was not commercially profitable. 
The lamp with a tungsten filament is indeed the only design 
used now, but in 1906 they were too expensive.
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Some Ideas 
Implemented 
Later
Several Lodygin's ideas were 
implemented much later, 
even after his death. 
In 1871 Lodygin proposed 
an autonomous diving 
apparatus that consisted of 
a steel mask, natural rubber 
costume, accumulator 
battery and a special 
apparatus for electrolysis of 
water.
His ideas for an electrical 
helicopter were used many 
years later by Igor Sikorsky.
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