George Carey Invents One of the Earliest Systems of Television Transmission

In 1880 George R. Carey, a professional surveyer employed by the city of Boston, proposed one of the earliest systems of television transmission. 

"In the May 17, 1878 [i.e.1879] issue of Scientific American, the editors alluded to their earlier article about the 'telectroscope invented by M. Senlecq of Ardres.' This was followed by the news that they had before them 'some very ingenious and curious applications of selenium, in which its peculiar property of changing its electrical conductivity when exposed to light varying in intensity is utilized. The several devices are the invention of Mr. George R. Carey, of Boston, Mass.' A more detailed article was published in the June 5, 1880 Scientific American" (Wikipedia article on George R. Carey, accessed 02-05-2012).