Leo Baekeland

Baekeland is credited with inventing Bakelite in 1907. This material was the world's first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no natural molecules found in nature.

He was born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, where he initially studied chemistry at the University of Ghent. He later emigrated to the United States in 1889 to pursue his scientific career.

Prior to his work with plastics, Baekeland invented 'Velox,' a pioneering photographic paper. He eventually sold the rights to the invention to George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak Company for a massive sum.

Bakelite was a thermosetting plastic, meaning it was formed by heat but became permanently solid and heat-resistant. This non-conductivity made it an ideal, durable material used in early telephones, radio casings, and electrical insulators.