Famous Belgian Inventors

Belgian Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite in 1907.

In 1899, a Belgian built electric racing car called "La Jamais Contente" set a world record for land speed.

Belgian born engineer, Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir invented and patented a double-acting, electric spark-ignition internal combustion engine fueled by coal gas.

Mercator map projection was invented by Belgian map maker Gerardus Mercator as a navigation tool.

The saxophone was invented by a Belgian manufacturer, Adolphe Sax.

Modern road asphalt was the work of Belgian immigrant Edward de Smedt.

Belgian chemist, Ernest Solvay invented the industrial process for sodium carbonate production.

Modern medicine began in 1543 with the publication of the first complete textbook of human anatomy, "De Humanis Corporis Fabrica" by Belgian physician Andreas Vesalius.

Great inventions from Belgium. The list of famous Belgians includes: Gerardus Mercator, Adolphe Sax, Leo Hendrik Baekeland, Joseph Plateau, Ernest Solvay, Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt, Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir, Charles Van Depoele, Zénobe Gramme, and Constant Loiseau.

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