In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison succeeded in producing a working prototype of the electric incandescent lamp.
While, contrary to popular belief, Edison did not invent the light bulb, he developed the first one that was remotely practical for home use. He eventually invented an electric lighting system that contained all the elements necessary to make the incandescent light practical, safe, and economical.
Learn more at http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm.
