Shining a Light on Henry Woodward: Canada’s Hidden Hero Who Beat Edison to the Lightbulb

Learn about the overlooked contributions of Henry Woodward, the Toronto innovator whose work laid the foundation for the light bulb

Jan 10, 2025

Canadian Achievements in Science and Technology Week - Day 6

*Image attribution: Creative Commons CC0.*

Let’s start our journey in 1874 Toronto. Picture a young medical student named Henry Woodward standing over a cluttered workbench, fiddling with wires and glass tubes.

Next to him is Mathew Evans, a hotel keeper who shares his fascination with a new form of light: electric light. They have an idea, one that may sound simple to you today, but in the 1870s it was a daring dream—the possibility of creating a long-lasting, practical source of illumination powered by electricity. Little did they know how much their work would change everyday life, nor how easily history would overlook their role.

First Steps Toward an Electric Glow

Henry Woodward: Born in 1832 in Toronto, he was training as a medical student but also had a passion for experimentation.

Mathew Evans: A friend with a hotel business, but equally curious about finding new ways to harness electricity.

One cold evening in 1873, they stumbled on something remarkable. Working with a battery, an induction coil, and a spark that was bright enough to read the time on a watch, they had a vision: what if they could capture this spark inside a protective globe? That spark could become a steady electric light. By 1874, Woodward and Evans were granted a Canadian patent for what they called an “Electric Light.” Their invention used:

A carbon rod filament connected to wires,
A glass tube filled with nitrogen gas to keep the carbon from burning out too quickly,
Sealed ends to maintain the controlled atmosphere within the bulb.

Early attempts by others to create electric light often failed because the filaments would burn out after just a few moments. By using a carbon rod in a nitrogen-filled tube, Woodward’s design was much more durable than previous efforts. This was a huge step forward.

Overcoming Doubt

Canada in the 1870s was no Silicon Valley.

Few people believed electric lighting had real potential. Gas lamps and kerosene lanterns were common, and there wasn’t much funding for such “far-fetched” ideas. Woodward and Evans faced several obstacles:

Cost of Materials and Equipment:
- Building prototypes required special glass tubes, carbon rods, and a reliable electricity source (like a dynamo). These were pricey.
Securing Investors:
- Many saw electric lighting as a curiosity, not a profitable venture. Bankers and business owners were wary.
Public Skepticism:
- Most folks couldn’t imagine replacing oil lamps. Some ridiculed the notion of an “electric lamp.”

Even so, Woodward and Evans kept experimenting. They filed for additional patents, including a U.S. patent for their design. But the costs began to pile up. They had to pay patent fees in multiple countries, build more test models, and defend their idea against critics.

A Sale That Changed History

By 1879, something had to give.

Unable to secure the money they needed to refine and mass-produce their bulbs, Woodward and Evans made a decision that would have huge consequences: they sold their U.S. patent rights to Thomas Edison for $5,000. If you convert that amount to modern dollars, it’s roughly $250,000. At the time, it may have seemed like a hefty sum, but the potential long-term value of the invention was far greater.

Thomas Edison was already on a mission to develop a commercial electric light.

He had a better funding network, more capital, and a full laboratory staff. He refined the design further, experimenting with different filaments until he found one that could burn for hundreds of hours. When Edison eventually unveiled his light bulb to the public, the world paid attention. The story quickly spread that Edison was the “inventor” of the light bulb, and Henry Woodward’s name sank into obscurity.

Why Woodward’s Work Matters

You might be asking, “So what if we give Woodward credit now? The past is the past.

Science and technology rarely spring from a single genius. They often grow out of many small steps taken by different inventors. Woodward’s design laid a foundation for electric lighting, demonstrating that a protected carbon filament in an inert gas (like nitrogen) could be practical. That approach helped Edison’s improvements succeed.

By acknowledging Woodward, we honour the collaborative nature of innovation.

We also remind ourselves that great ideas can come from unexpected places—like a Toronto medical student’s workshop. Canada has a long history of creating game-changing inventions, and Woodward’s story shows that the path to success is not always straightforward.

Even though his name never became as famous as Edison’s, recent efforts show that people are starting to give him more credit. Historians, educators, and museums are beginning to highlight his role, recognizing that Canada had a hand in shaping one of the most impactful technologies of the modern era.

Renewed Interest in Woodward’s Legacy

As of 2024, scholars and history buffs are digging into archives, hunting for more details about Woodward’s life.

We know he was born in Toronto in 1832 and was a medical student when he dove into electric lighting experiments. But much of his personal history—where he lived, how he supported himself, and what else he invented—remains hazy. Yet, this mystery adds a layer of intrigue. People want to know more about the mind behind one of the earliest workable light bulb designs.

It might surprise you how often inventions with Canadian roots are overshadowed by bigger names or better-funded labs.

Woodward is just one example, but his contribution to the light bulb shows how vital it is to keep asking who else had a role in the breakthroughs we now take for granted.

Lessons for Today’s Inventors

There’s more to Woodward’s story than just a missed chance at fame.

The obstacles he faced still resonate:

Securing Funding:
- Woodward needed money to refine his bulb and build a production system.
- Getting investors on board was tough because electric lighting seemed too new, too “impractical.”
Patent Costs:
- Patents can protect ideas, but they come with fees.
- Woodward and Evans struggled to maintain and defend their patents across multiple countries.
Public Skepticism:
- Many folks didn’t believe in electric light.
- They already had gas lamps, so why risk something untested?

Modern entrepreneurs can relate.

If you’re starting a new tech venture in Canada (or anywhere else), you might face the same hurdles: high development costs, cautious investors, and an audience unsure about changing their habits. The fact that Woodward’s design ended up in Edison’s hands is a reminder that timing, resources, and effective marketing can matter just as much as the invention itself.

Why We Should Remember Henry Woodward

If you flip a light switch in your home, you benefit from the work of countless inventors and engineers.

Henry Woodward’s name may not be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but his contribution deserves recognition for several reasons:

He Innovated Ahead of His Time:
- Woodward’s prototype predates Edison’s famous bulb by years, proving that transformative ideas can emerge in unexpected places.
He Showed Grit:
- It’s not easy to take on a project when the world isn’t ready to fund it or believe in it.
- Woodward pressed on, filing patents and building prototypes.
He Strengthens Canada’s Tech Story:
- Knowing about Woodward helps complete the narrative of how electric light evolved.
- It underscores Canada’s part in a global puzzle.

There’s also a lesson here about the nature of invention.

We often focus on a single “lone genius,” but history is more complicated. Edison, Woodward, Mathew Evans, and other experimenters—like Joseph Swan in England—all contributed pieces to the puzzle. Without Woodward’s nitrogen-filled bulb, who knows how quickly Edison could have introduced his own design?

A Brighter Spotlight for the Future

Woodward’s name is slowly moving out of the shadows.

Some Canadian science programs even name awards or labs in his honour, hoping to inspire the next generation of inventors. Exhibits in local historical societies detail his story, and a few educational initiatives aim to include him in textbooks.

At the end of the day, Woodward’s path teaches us a lot about how innovation works.

It reminds you that big ideas don’t always become commercial successes right away. Sometimes, the difference between fame and obscurity comes down to resources, timing, and a bit of luck. So the next time you flick on a light, remember that a Canadian inventor played a key part in making that everyday moment possible—Henry Woodward, the forgotten pioneer who helped shape the modern world of electric illumination.

Your Turn

Did you know that Canadians invented the lightbulb? It seems extra Canadian that we did the hard work but didn’t need to take the credit for a discovery that benefited the rest of the world. Take a sec. to type a comment and share your thoughts. I look forward to reading them all. I also respond to them all and appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation with you about the topics we cover each week.

And then, have a rad rest of your day!