History of the telephone recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives for his contributory work on the telephone. Several other controversies also surround the question of priority of invention for the telephone. The Elisha Gray and Alexander Bell telephone controversy considers the question of whether Bell and Gray invented the telephone independently and, if not, whether Bell stole the invention from Gray. This controversy is narrower than the broader question of who deserves credit for inventing the telephone, for which there are several claimants. The Canadian Parliamentary Motion on Alexander Graham Bell article reviews the controversial June 2002 United States House of Representatives resolution
Necessity is the mother of invention Necessity is the mother of invention "Necessity is the mother of invention" is an English-language proverb. It means, roughly, that the primary driving force for most new inventions is a need. "When the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it." The author of this proverb is unknown. This phrase was familiar in England, but in Latin, not in English. In 1519, the headmaster of Winchester and Eton, William Horman, used the Latin phrase "Mater artium necessitas" in his book "Vulgaria". In 1545 Roger Ascham used a close English version, "Necessitie, the