who originally invented time zones?

Answer 1

No on in particular did it. It was an ongoing process because people realised that time was different at different longitdes.

Read the link below, it gives a good history of the development of timezones.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/t/timezones.shtml

Answer 2

The passage of the sun through certain meridians caused great confusion when it came to telling time. As a result when mechanical clocks were invented in the middle ages The basis was the earth's revolutions around the sun became the 24 hour day. Since everything at one time or another depends on time Standard time went into effect in 1883 when the 24 time zones were established at 15 degrees each.They were international time zones some of which zig-zaged to accomodate areas with less than an hour differential in time. Railroads had a great influence in establishing a uniform timing system as well so that the whole country was on a standard time basis.