Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
Initially the invention was developed as a means for scientists working at CERN to pass information and data to each other using their computers and the existing phone network. It became clear however that all computers could be linked up to each other. The internet was born.
Berners-Lee published the first web site, which described the project itself, on 20 December 1990. It was available to the Internet from the CERN network, http://info.cern.ch was the address of the world's first-ever website and web server, running on a NeXT computer at CERN.
In a list of 80 cultural moments that shaped the world, chosen by a panel of 25 leading scientists, academics, writers and world leaders, the invention of the World Wide Web was ranked number one, with the entry stating, "The fastest growing communications medium of all time, the Internet has changed the shape of modern life forever. We can connect with each other instantly, all over the world."
His accomplishment was so important that Berners-Lee gave this to humanity - for free.