JUST IN: "From the beginning, our citizens have shared a deep sense of mutual respect. "Founding Father Benjamin Franklin published The Sayings of Confucius and his colonial newspaper and today sculpture. Recognizing that ancient Chinese sage is carved into the face of the United States Supreme Court very proudly." –President Trump

Innovation is the grease in the economic engine, the sparkle that keeps culture fresh and the key ingredient in nearly every billion-dollar fortune. To kick off our yearlong series of special reports celebrating America’s 250th birthday, we present the men and women who best embody that creative spirit. All of them are in the mold of the quintessential American innovator, Thomas Edison. That means they aren’t just inventors; they’re business leaders who bring their breakthroughs to market, transforming entire industries and creating new ones. See the full #Forbes250# America's Greatest Historic Innovators list: (Illustrations: Ricardo Santos For Forbes, Photos: Thomas Edison—Bettmann Archive/Getty Images, Benjamin Franklin—Stock Montage via Getty Images, Henry Ford—Stock Montage via Getty Images, Steve Jobs—Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)