Who invented the Telescope?

It might sound like a simple question but - who do you think invented the telescope?
The invention of the telescope was a major advance in the science of Astronomy.It wasn't Galileo Galilei who invented it as we were taught.Although Galileo Galilei was a great astronomer, he didn't invent the telescope.So,Who was it?? A man named Hans Lipperhey invented the telescope. He was born in Wesel, Germany and made his home in Middleburg, part of the Zeeland province in the Netherlands. He was married there in 1594, and became a citizen in 1602. He was a spectacle-maker by trade.The Italians developed new glass-making techniques which were introduced to the Netherlands in the 1590's. These new techniques helped to bring about new ideas and innovations in the glass-making community and people started to experiment with different ways to combine lenses.In 1608, (one year before Galileo got the device), Hans Lipperhey offered the new invention to the government for military use.Many other people claim to have invented the telescope, but Hans Lipperhey is the only person documented to have applied for a patent for the device.
By the way, legend has it that it wasn't Hans himself, but his children who actually invented the telescope while they were playing…. kinda muddies the water a bit huh?