Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Born in Scotland in 1847, Bell's work on sound and communication led to the invention patented in 1876. Bell’s telephone transformed personal and business communication, enabling voice transmission over long distances for the first time. His passion was driven by a desire to help the deaf, inspired by his mother's hearing challenges. Although there were earlier concepts for voice transmission, Bell’s design was the first to be practical and commercially viable, marking a significant milestone in technological innovation.