Nathaniel Baldwin
Nathaniel Baldwin (December 1, 1878 – January 19, 1961)[1] was an American inventor and industrialist,[2] known for his improved telephonic earphone, among other inventions.[3] Baldwin studied at Brigham Young Academy (BYA), Utah State Agricultural College,[3] and then Stanford University, receiving a degree in electrical engineering.His first ones were made by hand in his kitchen and, despite the Navy's suggestion, never patented the headset assembly because he considered their invention "trivial."[4] Baldwin used his success to help support the post-Manifesto polygamous movement in the 1920s, as he felt a religious duty to help those trying to preserve "Old Fashioned Mormonism.In a new business venture with his polygamous friends, Baldwin began selling stock for the Omega Investment Company, which led to his conviction for mail fraud in 1930 and two-year sentence at McNeil Island Federal Prison.