Who invented the telephone?

The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, who was awarded the first US patent for the invention of the telephone in 1876. Bell's work was centered around the transmission of vocal messages through electrical signals, which laid the foundation for modern telecommunications. His experiments and advancements in sound transmission technology were revolutionary, allowing for long-distance communication for the first time.

Other individuals, such as Thomas Edison, contributed to the development of related technologies and improvements in auditory devices, but they did not invent the telephone itself. Graham Bell, while seemingly a reference to the inventor, is not distinct or accurate enough to signify the person who actually patented and is most widely recognized for the invention. Albert Einstein, known for his contributions to physics, particularly the theory of relativity, played no role in the invention of the telephone. Thus, the recognition of Bell as the inventor is both historically significant and technically accurate.