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How A Famous Inventor Made The First Metal Detector To Save A US President’s Life
Necessity has often been the mother of invention Alexander Graham Bell knew all too well
Metal detectors are a modern common tool of hobbyists who primarily enjoy combing beaches and historical sites in search of relics and other treasures. However, they have evolved greatly from their original intended use. In 1881, famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell made the very first metal detector in an effort to save the life of U.S. President James Garfield, who had been shot by an assassin.
On July 2, 1881, Garfield, the 20th American President, was in a Washington D.C. rail station when an unstable attorney named Charles Guiteau, who was angry at not having received a consular post, shot him at close range in the back and arm. Doctors worked feverishly to treat the wound, but could not locate the bullet. That and a lack of robust sanitary practices at the time contributed to Garfield lingering near death in the White House.
Upon hearing of Garfield’s grave condition, Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell, best known for the telephone, jumped into the fray. He was working in Washington at the time and believed he could come up with a way to harmlessly locate the bullet and hopefully save the President’s…
