Joseph Wilson Swan

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"There is a young madman proposing to light the streets of London - with what do you suppose - with smoke!"

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Sir Walter Scott

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But didn't Thomas Edison get there first? No!  He was beaten by Britain's very own Joseph Swan.  SWAN'S HOUSE in Gateshead was the FIRST PRIVATE HOUSE in the WORLD to be LIT UP BY LIGHT BULBS.  He went on to light up Mosley Street in Newcastle City Centre.  Swan and Edison merged, setting up the Edison & Swan United Electric Light Company in 1883.  ...from the 'Darkness' of the north came 'light' for London and then the world!

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Swan made theatrical history by lighting up the Savoy Theatre, City of Westminster, London.

Thomas Edison develops his light bulb.

Little did he know that Joseph Swan had beaten him to it!