Inventor of the internal combustion engine?

While there's no single, definitive inventor of the internal combustion engine, Émile Lenoir is often credited with creating the first commercially successful internal combustion engine in 1860.

Here's a breakdown of why:

* Émile Lenoir: His engine, using a mixture of coal gas and air, was the first to be commercially produced and used in vehicles (a modified three-wheeled carriage).

* Previous Attempts: While Lenoir is recognized for his practical success, others, like Nikolaus Otto and Siegfried Marcus, made significant contributions to the development of the internal combustion engine, leading to the development of more efficient designs.

* Multiple Contributors: The development of the internal combustion engine was a gradual process with many inventors building upon each other's work.

It's important to remember that the internal combustion engine is a complex invention with a long and fascinating history, and its development involved contributions from many individuals.