Edwin Land was an American inventor and entrepreneur, best known for founding the Polaroid Corporation. He was born on May 7, 1909, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Land is credited with inventing the instant camera, which allowed people to take photographs and see the developed images within minutes. His innovations revolutionized photography and made it more accessible to the public. In addition to his work on instant photography, Land was a pioneer in the field of polarized light. He developed the first commercial polarizer, which is used in various applications, including sunglasses and camera filters. Throughout his career, Land held over 500 patents and received numerous awards for his contributions to science and technology.