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.
[4] He then returned to BYA to teach physics and theology and remained after its name changed to Brigham Young University (BYU).
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.