Edison's  lamp became the first commercially successful incandescent lamp  (circa 1879). Edison received U.S. Patent 223,898 for his  incandescent lamp in 1880.    However, contrary to popular belief, Edison did not invent the  first lightbulb, he improved upon a 50-year-old idea. Canadians  Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans patented a light bulb in 1875, but  could not raise the financing to commercialize their invention.  Edison bought the rights to their patent.