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[–] reducedNa 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Thomas Edison - needs little explanation.

As the countries greatest thief?

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[–] Joe_McCarthy [S] 1 point -1 points (+0|-1) ago  (edited ago)

Even if one believes that it is beyond dispute that he legitimately invented immensely important things. He is probably the seminal figure of any nationality in the history of technological development and from what I've seen the literature credits him as such. The charge of theft is undermined by the fact that his research methods were little different from standard practice today.