who invented the first practical telephone

The first practical telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. He was a Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor who was awarded the first U.S. patent for the telephone on March 7, 1876. Bell's invention enabled voice communication over long distances and is widely recognized as the first practical telephone. His work was influenced by his family's involvement in elocution and speech, as well as his personal connection to the deaf community through his mother and wife. Despite the controversies and contributions of others like Antonio Meucci and Elisha Gray, Bell is most often credited with this invention and went on to co-found the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885