On this day in, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call.

The Fateful Spill. Bell discovered that a wire vibrated by the voice ~ while partially immersed in a conducting liquid ~ could transmit human speech. While testing the theory, Bell knocked over his transmitting liquid ~ battery acid. He reacted, supposedly shouting "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you!"

Are You Live or Are You Wired? His partner, Thomas Watson, who was working in the next room, heard Bell's voice through the wire. Watson had received the first telephone call.

Faint Sound, Big Result. With this first, though faint, voice transmission, Bell brought the telephone into the world.

Bell Predicts. Bell predicted that, some day, telephones would allow friends to talk without having to leave their homes.

Have To Admit It's Getting Better. Through a series of experiments, Bell improved his results. On November 26, he transmitted sound clearly over a wire between Cambridge and Salem, Massachusetts. This design became the standard for the commercial instruments that were introduced the next year.

Bell Bio Facts. Born March 3, 1847 and educated at Edinburgh University, Bell moved to the US in 1871. He worked on the multiple telegraph, then went on to research, and finally sent the first telephone message.

Communications Revolution. Bell's discovery was the beginning of the communications revolution. The telephone became extremely popular.

Pa Bell? In 1880, Bell was awarded the French Volta Prize and 50,000 francs. With the money, he established the Bell Telephone Company, which still exists today.

Can't Stop Thinking. Alexander Bell also invented the first wax recording cylinder, which was the predecessor of the modern phonograph, and the aileron, which is the movable section of a modern airplane's wing that controls roll.