Thomas S. Sanders

First investor in Bell Telephone

Bell Telephone | Associates: Alexander Graham Bell, Alexander Melville Bell, William Hathaway Forbes, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, Thomas A. Watson

1878

Thomas Sanders was a crucial early investor and the first treasurer of the Bell Telephone Company, essentially financing the invention's development. A successful Haverhill, Massachusetts leather merchant, he funded Alexander Graham Bell in exchange for partnership after hiring him to tutor his deaf son, eventually enabling the 1877 formation of the company.

Timeline events (4)

Bell meets leather merchant Thomas Sanders (who has a deaf son) becoming close friends

1871

Bell reveals his harmonic telegraph work to Hubbard and Sanders, who agree to fund his efforts

1874

Bell Patent Association formed so Sanders and Hubbard can share in proceeds from Bell's patents

1875

Bell Telephone founded

1877

Thomas S. Sanders

Timeline events (4)

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