Leo Baekeland was a Belgian chemist born on November 14, 1863. He is best known for inventing Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907. This invention revolutionized the materials industry and paved the way for the development of modern plastics. Baekeland moved to the United States in 1889, where he continued his research and founded the Bakelite Corporation. His work not only contributed to the field of chemistry but also had a significant impact on manufacturing and consumer products, making him a key figure in the history of materials science.