Who was the inventor associated with the establishment of the world's first modern research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey?

The inventor associated with the establishment of the world's first modern research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, is Thomas A. Edison. Edison's Menlo Park facility, founded in 1876, was groundbreaking for its structured approach to research and development. This laboratory was significant because it not only focused on individual inventions but also emphasized collaboration and systematic experimentation, allowing inventors and researchers to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

Edison is well-known for his contributions to various fields, including electric light and power systems, phonographs, and motion pictures. His vision for innovation transformed the way inventions were developed, leading to a new era in American industry. This structured model of research and development would later influence other inventors and companies, reinforcing Edison's legacy as a key figure in the technological advancements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In contrast, the other figures listed—Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, and George Westinghouse—while all significant inventors in their own right, did not establish a facility that embodied the modern laboratory concept as Edison's did.