You might not recognize this name, but he invented an instrument that is very well known. Bartolomeo Cristofori is the man credited with inventing the piano.
During the 1700’s the harpsichord was the musical instrument of choice, but it did have one major flaw. The harpsichord was not able to play notes with degrees or softness. The piano changed this and music forever. Cristofori created a systems of hampers that that hit the strings versus the harpsichords system of plucking the strings.
There is a great article published that goes into further detail about the piano and has a video of the earliest surviving piano which is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1721. Check it out below!
ryanleelejeune.com 
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