Alexander Graham Bell had a major influence on our society. Bell was one of the greatest inventors that ever lived. Without him the world wouldn't be the same. "He was born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Alexander Melville Bell and Eliza Grace Bell."" (World Book 2) "Educated at the universities of Edinburgh and London."" (Encarta 1) .
"His father, Alexander Melville Bell, was a professor at Edinburgh University 8`. Alexander senior was also interested in the art of speech. He was an expert in the processes and skills of speech. He taught people how to talk clearly and distinctly."" (Parker 5).
Graham's mother, Eliza Grace Symonds, was a painter and, despite partial deafness, a fine musician, a skill she passed on to Graham. (Fisher 3) "Grandfather Bell was born into a family of Scottish shoemakers in 1790. Dissatisfied with the shoe trade, he took up acting and studied literature, grammar, and speech. He became a superb elocutionist, or public speaker, and eventually taught speech."" (National Geographic 9) May 17, 1867-Alexander Graham Bell's younger brother, Edward, dies of tuberculosis. May 28, 1870, Alexander Graham Bell's older brother, Melville, dies of tuberculosis.
"The Bell family was not pleased with Alexander's lack of school success. So he was sent to stay in London with his grandfather, a speech expert. Alexander enjoyed the independence of London. He got along well with his grandfather and improved his studies. He also learned much about the human voice box and speech production."" (Parker 6) Undoubtedly, Bell's studies with his grandfather were one of the most important and influential experiences in Alexander's life.
"While teaching at Elgin, Alec investigated the pitch or vibrating speed, of vowel sounds using musical tuning forks. He discovered that each vowel had a unique rate of vibration. Alex was inspired. If vowels could travel through wire, then consonants could.