Document Of The Age: Electricity and Man" And TIME MAGAZINE MILLENNIAL Surprisingly, little "Al Edison," who was the last of seven children in his family, did not learn to communicate very well until he was three and a half years of age. Soon thereafter, he suddenly began pleading with every adult he met to explain the workings of just about everything he encountered. If they said they didn't know, he would look them straight in the eyes, with deeply set and vibrant blue-green eyes and ask them "Why?" Please Scroll Down For The Story Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Edison was not born into poverty in a backwater mid-western "hicktown." Actually, he was born - on Feb. 11, 1847 - to middle-class parents in the bustling port of Milan, Ohio, a vital community that - next to Odessa, Russia - was the largest wheat shipping center in the world. In 1854, his family moved to the vibrant city of Port Huron, Michigan, which ultimately surpassed the commercial preeminence of both Milan and Odessa....
If modern psychology had existed back then, Tom might have been deemed a victim of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and proscribed a dose of the "miracle drug" Ritalin. Instead, when his beloved mother - whom he often recalled "was the making of me (because) she was so true and so sure of me...and always made me feel I had someone to live for - and whom I must never disappoint - became aware of this situation, she eventually withdrew him from school and tried to home-teach" him. she believed her son's slightly unusual physical appearance and demeanor were merely outward signs of his above-average intelligence. Its also noteworthy to add here that the contents of a note that Tom's teacher sent home to his mother at this time, informing her that "the child is as dense as a stump and virtually unteachable," was never revealed to him until many years after her death. in any case, "quietly ignoring the its existence and essence, she and her husband utterly dedicated themselves to educating their beloved child by themselves. A proud descendant of the distinguished old Elliot family of New England, New York born Nancy Edison was the devout and charming daughter of a highly respected Presbyterian minister, as well as an accomplished educator in her own right. After the above incident, she commenced teaching her favorite son the "Three R's" and the Bible. Meanwhile, his rather "worldly and roguish" father, Samuel, encouraged him to focus on the great classics, giving him a ten cents reward for each one he completed. It wasn't long thereafter that the serious minded youngster developed a deep interest in world history and English literature. Interestingly, many years later, Tom's abiding fondness for Shakespeare's plays lead him to briefly consider becoming an actor. But, because of his high-pitched voice and extreme shyness before every audience - "except those he was trying to influence into helping him finance ever more inventions" - he soon gave up the idea. At age 11, Tom's parents tried to appease his voracious appetite for knowledge by teaching him how to use the resources of the local library. This skill became the foundation of many factors that gradually caused him to prefer learning via independent self instruction. Starting with the last book on the bottom shelf, Tom now set out to systematically read every book in the stacks. Wisely, however, his parents promptly guided him towards being ever more selective in what he read. So, by age 12, Tom had not only completed Gibbon's Rise And Fall Of The Roman Empire, Sears' History Of The World, and Burton's Anatomy Of Melancholy, he had devoured The World Dictionary of Science and a number of works on Practical Arithmetic and Chemistry. But, in spite of their noble efforts, Tom's dedicated parents soon found themselves incapable of addressing his increasing interest in the Sciences and mathematics. For example, when he began to question them about concepts dealing with Physics and such "overly high-tone" language and mathematics. things to himself through his own method of objective examination and experimentation." Tom's response to the Principia enhanced his propensity towards gleaning insights from the writings and activities of great men and women of wisdom, never forgetting that "even might be entrenched in preconceived dogma and mired down in error...." All the while, he was cultivating a strong sense of perseverence, readily expending whatever amount of time and perspiration that was needed to overcome any challenge. Which was a characteristic that he later noted was contrary to the way most people respond to stress and strain on their body. The key upshot of this attribute was that his unique mental and physical, stamina stood him in very good stead when he later took on the incredible rigors of a being a successful inventor in the mid-to-late 19th Century. a positive way, was his poor hearing. Even though this condition - and the fact that he had only three months of formal schooling - prevented him from taking advantage of the benefits of a secondary education in contemporary mathematics, physics, and engineering etc., he never let it interfere with finding ways of compensating. 19th century electrical science. And of course, at the dawn of the "Age Of Electric Lights And Dynamos, nothing could have better served his destiny.... After his hero, Abraham Lincoln, was nominated for president, Tom not only distributed campaign literature on his behalf, he peddled flattering photographs of this "great emancipator." (Note: Of related interest, 25 years later, Tom's strong feelings about abolition was the key factor in encouraging him to select as the first place on earth to model his "World's first calibrated, perfected and standardized 3 wire, undergound central power system etc., which is fully detailed elsewhere on this website.) At its peak, Tom's mini-publishing venture netted him more than ten dollars per day. Because this was considerably more than enough to provide for his own support, he had a good deal of extra income, most of which went towards outfitting a chemical laboratory he had set up in the basement of his home. But because his, usually very patient and tolerant, mother was "worried about all the strange odors and dangerous poisons he was amassing," he transferred most of them to a locked room in the basement of his home. And placed the remainder in his locker room on the train. One day, while traversing a bumpy section of track, the train lurched, causing a stick of phosphorous to roll onto the floor and burst into flames. Within moments, the baggage car caught fire. The conductor was so angry, he severely chastised the boy and struck him with a powerful blow on the side of his head. Purportedly, this could have enhanced some of the loss of hearing he may have inherited and from a later bout he had with scarlet fever. In any case, the station-master penalized him by restricting him to peddling his newspaper to only venues in railroad stations along the track .... Remarkably, many years later, and not long after he had acquired the means to have an operation that "might have very likely restored his hearing," he flatly refused to act upon the option. His rationale was that he was afraid he "would have difficulty re-learning how to channel his thinking in an ever more noisy world." At this juncture, one of the most significant events in Tom's life occurred. As a reward for his heroism - the child's grateful father taught him how to master the use of Morse code and the telegraph. Which in the "age of telegraphy," this was akin to being introduced to learning how to use a state-of-the-art computer. By age 15, Tom had pretty much mastered the basics of this fascinating new career and obtained a job as a replacement for one of the thousands of "brass pounders" (telegraph operators) who had gone off to serve in the Civil War. He now had a golden opportunity to enhance his speed and efficiency in sending and receiving code and performing experiments designed to improve this device.... Shortly after the Civil War ended, to his mother's great dismay, Tom decided that it was time to "seek his fortune." So, over the next few years, he meandered throughout the Central States, supporting himself as a "tramp telegraph operator". At age 16, after working in a variety of telegraph offices, where he "was able to squeeze in numerous moonlight experiments of his own," he finally came up with his first invention. Called an "automatic repeater," it transmitted telegraph signals between unmanned stations, allowing virtually anyone to easily and accurately translate Morse code at their own speed and convenience. Curiously, he never patented the initial version of this idea. In 1868 - after making a name for himself amongst fellow telegraphers for being a rather flamboyant and quick witted character who enjoyed playing "mostly harmless" practical jokes - he returned home one day ragged and penniless. Sadly, he found his parents in an even worse predicament.... First, his beloved mother was beginning to show signs of mental derangement "which was probably brought on by the strains of an often difficult life." Making matters worse, his occasionally impulsive father had just quit his job at the local bank, which was about to foreclose on the family's homestead. Tom promptly came to grips with the pathos of this overall situation and - perhaps for the first time in his life - resolved to address head-on a number of his own immature shortcomings. After a good deal of soul searching and angiush about leaving his folks, he finally decided that the best thing he could do would be to get right back out on his own - and try to make some money.... Shortly thereafter, Tom accepted the suggestion of a fellow "lightening slinger" named Billy Adams to "Come East and apply for a permanent job as a telegrapher with the relatively prestigious Western Union Company in Boston." His willingness to travel over a thousand miles from home was at least partly influenced by the fact that he had been given a free rail ticket by the local street railway company for some repairs he had done for them. The most important factor, however, was the fact that greater Boston - not greater New York City - was then considered "the hub of the scientific, educational, and cultural universe..." Throughout the mid-19th century, New England had many features that were somewhat analogous to today's Silicon Valley in California. However, instead of being a haven for the thousands of young "tekkies" - who communicate with each via the internet of today - it was the home of scores of young telegraphers who anxiously stayed abreast of the emerging new age of electricity by communicating via Morse telegraph code. During these latter days of this "Age of Telegraphy," Tom toiled 12 hours a day and six days a week for Western Union. Meanwhile, he continued his habit of "moonlighting" on his own projects... Within six months, he had applied for and received his very first patent: "But, even though this beautifully constructed , was this first legitimate invention he was to come up with, it turned out to be a disaster."
When he tried to market it to members of the Massachusetts Legislature, they thoroughly denigrated it, claiming "its speed in tallying votes would disrupt the delicate political status-quo." Their specific concern was that - during times of stress - political groups regularly relied upon the brief delays that were provided by the process of counting votes to influence, and hopefully change, the opinions of their colleagues.... "This is exactly what we do want" a seasoned old politician scolded him, adding that "Your invention would not only destroy the only hope the minority would have in influencing legislation, it would deliver them over - bound hand and foot - to the majority!" Although Tom was very disappointed by this turn of events, he immediately grasped its implications. Even though the remarkable invention allowed each voter to instantly and accurately cast and record his vote from his seat - exactly as it was supposed to do - he realized the idea was so far ahead of its time, it was completely devoid of any sales appeal. Because of his desperate need for money, Tom now made a critically significant adjustment in his, heretofore, relatively naive outlook on the world of business and marketing.... "From now on," he vowed, he would "never waste time inventing things that people would not want to buy." It is also important to note here that it was during Tom's 17 month stint in Boston that he was first exposed to lectures at Boston Tech (which was founded in 1861 and became the Mass. Institute of Technology in 1916) and the ideas of several associates on the state-of-the-art of "multiplexing" telegraph signals. Specifically, this theory and related experimental quests involved the transmission of electrical impulses at different frequencies over telegraph wires, producing horn-like simulations of the human voice - and even crude images (the first internet?) via an instrument called the . Not surprisingly, his "casual (same aged) friend and acquaintance" Alexander Graham Bell, who was also living and working in Boston (trying to develop a telephone-like device right along side of Edison's bench at the famous Williams Shop) was equally fascinated by this exciting new aspect of communication science. And no wonder. The principles surrounding it would ultimately lead both men toward far greater heights.... Deeply in debt and about to be fired by Western Union for "not concentrating on his primary responsibilities and for doing too much moonlighting for his own good "Edison now suddenly borrowed $35.00 from his fellow telegrapher and "night owl" pal, Benjamin Bredding, to purchase a steamship ticket to the "much more commercially oriented city of New York." During the third week after arriving in "the big apple" Tom (seen left) was purportedly "on the verge of starving to death." At this precipitous juncture, one of the most amazing coincidences in the annals of technological history now began to unfold. Immediately after having begged a cup of tea from a street vendor, Tom began to meander through some of the offices in New York's financial district. Observing that the manager of a local brokerage firm was in a panic, he eventually determined that a critically important stock-ticker in his office had just broken down.... Noting that no one in the crowd that had gathered around the defective machine seemed to have a clue on how to fix it, he elbowed his way into the scene and grasped a momentary opportunity to have a go at addressing what was wrong, himself. Luckily, since he had been sleeping in the basement of the building for a few days - and was, typically, doing quite a bit of snooping around - he already had a pretty good idea of what the device was supposed to do. After spending a few more seconds confirming exactly how the stock ticker was intended to work in the first place, Tom boldly reached down and manipulated a loose spring back to where it belonged. And to everyone's amazement, except Tom's, the device began to "purr like a kitten." The office manager was so ecstatic, he quickly made an on-the-spot decision to hire Edison to make all such repairs for the busy company, for the extraordinary salary of $300.00 per month. This was not only more than what his very talented pal Benjamin Bredding was making back in Boston, but twice the going rate for a top electrician in New York City. Later in life, Edison recalled that the incident was more euphoric than anything he had ever experienced before, "because it made me feel as though I had been suddenly delivered out of abject poverty, into prosperity. ================================================================================== It should come as no surprise that, during his free time, Edison once again resumed his habit of "moonlighting" with the telegraph, the quadruplex transmitter, and the stock-ticker, etc. Shortly thereafter, he was absolutely astonished - in fact he nearly fainted - when a corporation paid him $40,000 for all of his rights to the latter device. Convinced no bank would honor the large check he was given for it, which was the first "real" money he had ever received for an invention, young Edison walked around for hours in a stupor, staring at it in amazement. Fearful that someone would steal it, he laid the cash out on his bed and stayed up all night, counting it over and over in disbelief. The next day a wise friend told him to "deposit it in a bank forthwith and to just forget about it for a while. A few weeks later, Edison wrote a series of extremely poignant letters back home to his father: "How is mother getting along?... I am now in a position to give you folks some cash... Write and say how much....Give mother anything she wants...." (Interestingly, It was during this time that he also repaid Bredding the $35.00 he had borrowed earlier.) Over the next three years, Edison's progress in creating successful inventions for industry really took off. For example, in 1874 - with the money he received from the sale of an electrical engineering firm that held several of his patents - he opened his first testing and use. Interestingly, at one point during this intense period, Edison was as close to inventing the telephone as Bell was to inventing the phonograph. Nevertheless, shortly after Edison moved his laboratory to Menlo Park, N.J. in 1876, he invented - in 1877 - the first phonograph. In 1879, extremely disappointed by the fact that Bell had beaten him in the race to patent the first authentic transmission of the human voice, Edison now "one upped" all of his competition by inventing the first commercially practical incandescent electric light bulb... And if that wasn't enough to forever seal his unequaled importance in technological history, he came up with an invention that - in terms of its collective affect upon mankind - has had more impact than any other. In 1883 and 1884, while beating a path from his research lab to the patent office, he introduced the world's first economically viable system of centrally generating and distributing safe electric light, heat, and power. Sometimes properly acknowledged as his "greatest of acheivement" it has enormously impacted the world we know today... Even some of his worst critics grant that "it was a Herculean achievement that only he was capable of bringing about at this specific point in history." By 1887, Edison was recognized for having set up the world's first full fledged research and development center in West Orange, New Jersey. An amazing enterprise, its significance is as much misunderstood as his work in developing the first practical centralized power system. Regardless, within a year, this fantastic operation was the largest scientific testing laboratory in the world. In 1890, Edison immersed himself in developing the first Vitascope, which would lead to the first silent motion pictures. And, by 1892, his had fully merged with another firm to become the great General Electric Corporation, in which he was a major stockholder. At the turn-of-the-century, Edison invented the first practical dictaphone, mimeograph, and storage battery. After creating the "kinetiscope" and the first silent film in 1904, he went on to introduce , which was a ten minute clip that was his first attempt to blend audio with silent moving images to produce By now, Edison was being hailed world-wide as , The father of the electrical age," and ." And, quite naturally, when World War I began, he was asked by the U. S. Government to focus his genius upon creating devices for submarines and ships. During this time, he also perfected a number of important inventions relating to the enhanced use of rubber, concrete, and ethanol. And, by the 1920s, Edison was internationally revered. However, even though he was personally acquainted with scores of very important people of his era, he cultivated very few close friendships. And according to his son, Charles, due to the "continuing demands of his unique career, there were still relatively long periods when he felt obliged to spend a shockingly small amount of time with his family. It wasn't until his health began to fail, in the late 1920s, that Edison finally began to slow down and, so to speak, "smell the flowers." Up until obtaining his last (1,093rd) patent at age 83, "he worked mostly at home where, though increasingly frail, he much enjoyed greeting former associates and famous people such as Charles Lindberg, Marie Curie, Henry Ford, and President Herbert Hoover etc. He also enjoyed reading mail from the thousands of his admirers - and puttering around, when physically able, in his office and home laboratory." Thomas Edison died At 9 P.M. On Oct. 18th, 1931 in New Jersey. He was 84 years of age. Shortly before passing away, he awoke from a deep coma to strains of his favorite composer, Bethoven, (Who was also deaf) that were "loudly" emanating from his favorite phonograph... Looking upward, to his very religious "ever-faithful" wife, Mina - who had been keeping a vigil all night by his side - and haltingly uttered... "I'm finished... Its very beautiful over there... Eternal GOD! papers" shortly after his death: dominion it follows that the God is a living, intelligent and powerful Being. And that, from His other perfections, He alone is supreme, or most perfect... He is eternal, infinite, omnipotent and omniscient. That is, His duration reaches from eternity to eternity, and His presence is from infinity to infinity. He governs all things... And he knows all things that are, or can be, done.") | Most realized that, even though he was far from being a perfect human being - and may not have really had the always amiable and avuncular personality that was so often ascribed to him by myth makers -Thomas Edison was an essentially good man with a powerful mission. Driven by a superhuman desire to fulfill the promise of objective persistent research and create things to serve and uplift all of mankind, no one did more to help realize our founders dream of creating a brand new country that - at its best - would be seen by everyone as "a shining new city upon a hill, whose light would be going out to the world...." Because of the peculiar voids that Edison sometime evinced in areas such as cognition, speech, grammar, etc., a number of medical authorities have argued that he may have been plagued by a fundamental learning disability that went well beyond mere deafness.... A few of have conjectured that this mysterious ailment - along with his lack of a formal education - may account for why he always seemed to "think so differently" compared to others of his time: "Always tenaciously clinging to those unique methods of analysis and experimentation with which he alone alwaya seemed to feel so comfortable...." Whatever the impetus for his unique personality and traits, his incredible ability to come up with a meaningful new patent every two weeks throughout his working career "added more to the collective wealth of the world - and had more impact upon shaping modern civilization - than the accomplishments of any figure since Gutenberg...." Accordingly, most serious science and technology historians grant that he was indeed "The most influential figure of our millennium." Notes: In 1929, Edison's close friend, Henry Ford, completed the task of moving Edison's original Menlo Park laboratory to the Greenfield Village museum in Dearborn, Mich. In 1962 his existing laboratory and home in West Orange, N.J. were designated as National Historic Sites. Copyright © Gerald Beals June, 1999. All rights registered and reserved. Please Note: Absolutely no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form - or stored by any means in a database or retrieval system - without the prior written and express permission of the author. Please note : Infringements will be (in fact one is currently being) prosecuted to the full extent of the law. gerrybeals@ verizon.net | | | | Jump to Topic | | Edison - Age one (Private) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Search ResultsWe are sorry, no results were found for your search . GALLERIES > Science > Thomas Edison Thomas Edison![thomas edison small biography Thomas Edison](https://www.potterswaxmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/thomas-edison-figure.jpg) History of Thomas EdisonBorn on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, Thomas Edison was a notable inventor and businessman. As a child, Edison received minimal education, but his curiosity and determination to learn about the fields of science and technology ultimately led him to become one of America’s most notable inventors. Thomas Edison’s commitment to communication and technology is one of the reasons we are able to enjoy modern technology. Edison’s ambitious journey began in 1876 when he established his first laboratory in Menlo Park, NJ. This facility became the birthplace of several groundbreaking inventions, most notably, the phonograph, which was patented in 1878. This invention revolutionized the music industry by enabling sound recording and playback. In 1879, Edison invented the practical electric lightbulb, which changed the course of the future and transformed the way we live. His steadfast efforts to develop a reliable and commercially viable incandescent lightbulb led to the establishment of the Edison Electric Light Company. Edison’s innovation laid the groundwork for the modern electric utility industry, as his electric light company extended to the development of an electrical distribution system, including power plants and electrical grids. Thomas Edison’s innovations extended beyond light and sound technology. Edison held over 1,000 patents in various fields, including telegraphy, motion pictures, and storage batteries. The invention of the motion picture device known as the Kinetoscope was a pivotal moment for the film industry, as it allowed for the projection of moving images. Aside from his technical achievements, Edison also had remarkable business acumen. He established the Edison General Electric Company (now known as General Electric) in 1889, merging his various businesses to create a powerful corporation. Edison’s ability to develop and commercialize his inventions made him a high-profile figure in the industrial landscape of his time. DID YOU KNOW? Edison held over 1,000 patents in various fields, including telegraphy, motion pictures, and storage batteries.Thomas Edison’s passion for innovation and knowledge led to his numerous contributions, earning him international recognition. Edison was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, most notably, the French Legion of Honor in 1881 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1928. His lasting legacy of creativity and modernization remains an influence on inventors worldwide. Thomas Edison’s noteworthy history displays his exceptional capabilities as an inventor. His entrepreneurial spirit has an indelible impact on the world. Edison’s inventions are a foundation for the growing world of technology we know today. Edison’s relentless quest for innovation serves as a reminder of the power of curiosity, perseverance, and dedication to shaping the course of history. Fun Facts About Thomas EdisonThomas Edison’s family called him Al, which is an abbreviation of his middle name, Alva. Thomas Edison’s first two children were nicknamed Dot and Dash, inspired by the telegraph. Thomas Edison conducted his first experiments as a child in his parent’s home. Thomas Edison experienced partial deafness. Thomas Edison’s first invention was an electric vote recorder. Thomas Edison had 1,093 patents, which is one of the highest numbers of patents held on record. The first record of Thomas Edison’s voice on the phonograph is his recitation of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Thomas Edison built a laboratory on a train in his adolescence. One of Thomas Edison’s developments was a talking doll said to have been unsettling. Early Life of Thomas EdisonThomas Edison is an iconic figure in American history. He was an inventor and entrepreneur who achieved significant success. Edison’s work laid the foundation for modern technology and raised the bar for other scientists and inventors. From a young age, Thomas Edison had a demanding need for knowledge, and his natural curiosity led him into the fields of science and technology. His monumental success can be attributed to his need to learn, as it was his motivation behind the numerous experiments and inventions he completed in his lifetime. Around the age of 10, Thomas Edison built a small lab in his parent’s basement, where he would conduct his experiments and tinker, developing his understanding of electricity. By the age of 12, Thomas Edison held a job as a newsboy on a train. This role sharpened his skills in entrepreneurship, and he began publishing his own newspaper called the Grand Trunk Herald. Edison set up shop on the train with a printing press and began selling his newspaper to passengers. His success as a newsboy and publisher initiated his lifelong career as an inventor and businessman. Edison’s quest for knowledge continued as he read books to educate himself on an array of subjects, including engineering, mathematics, and science. He did not receive a formal education, which made it necessary for Edison to study independently and conduct hands-on experiments for a well-rounded expertise. At the age of 27, Thomas Edison invented and patented the quadruplex telegraph, an enhancement of existing telegraph technology that produced a significant advancement in the way people communicate. The quadruplex telegraph was created in 1874 and had a system that enabled multiple messages to be transmitted simultaneously over a single wire. Edison later sold the rights to this device to Western Union, sealing his reputation as a master inventor and businessman. Thomas Edison did not receive a formal education, which made it necessary for him to study independently...Two years after Thomas Edison invented the quadruplex telegraph, he founded his first true laboratory in Menlo Park, NJ. Edison often referred to his lab as the “Invention Factory,” as it was at the heart of his innovation and experimentation. In 1877, the phonograph was invented in the Invention Factory. This device could record and play back sound and became a defining moment in the audio technology industry. It was in his early years that Thomas Edison developed the device that would make him a household name. Edison spent several years researching and conducting experiments to develop an incandescent lightbulb. The electric lightbulb was invented in 1879 and transformed lives all over the world with a safe, reliable, and efficient source of light. Thomas Edison was a pioneer in the technology industry, and his revolutionary contributions to science left a lasting legacy. He became one of the most prominent figures in history, as his inventions paved the path for further advancement in modern technology. Inventions and Accomplishments of Thomas EdisonThomas Edison submitted his first patent application in 1868 for a device called the electric vote recorder. Thomas Edison’s 1874 invention of the quadruplex telegraph, with the ability to simultaneously transmit messages for four individuals over a single wire, was a momentous breakthrough in telegraphic communications. Thomas Edison began work on the carbon telephone transmitter in 1876. Upon completion, this device became an integral part of telegraphic communications. The carbon telephone transmitter was a microphone that enhanced the clarity and quality of sounds. The phonograph was invented in 1877 and paved the way for the advancement of audio technology. The phonograph was crucial for the development of recording and playing back audio. Thomas Edison became a household name in 1879 after applying for a patent for the commercial incandescent lightbulb. Thomas Edison demonstrated the capabilities of the electric power distribution system by powering a square block of commercial and industrial businesses, as well as some private residences, in Manhattan in 1882. Thomas Edison first publicly presented the Kinetoscope and Kinetograph, which became revolutionary for the motion picture (film) industry, in 1893. In addition to his contributions to the realm of electricity, Thomas Edison invented the Kinetograph, one of the early motion picture cameras, thanks to which we can enjoy the visual entertainment of the 21st century. Thomas Edison worked extensively and significantly contributed to early developments in X-ray technology. One of Thomas Edison’s most significant contributions was his work improving the rechargeable battery. Late in LifeThomas Edison passed away on October 18, 1931, at the age of 84. Edison was a renowned inventor and businessman who left a lasting legacy of significant achievements in the fields of science and technology. Many of his inventions have influenced the technology that we enjoy today. Edison created an astonishing number of inventions in his lifetime. Thomas Edison began conducting his experiments around the age of 10, and by the age of 22, he completed his first invention, the electric vote recorder. His steadfast quest for knowledge and innovation established Edison as one of the greatest inventors of all time, even earning him the nickname “The Wizard of Menlo Park.” When people think of Thomas Edison, they think of the lightbulb. Edison spent several years developing the incandescent lightbulb, an invention that changed the future of illumination. The lightbulb soon replaced the use of gas and oil lamps, which also improved fire safety. Edison’s invention of the lightbulb also led to electrical lighting systems. Edison further advanced the electrical power industry by developing a system for electrical power distribution. The first instance of electric power distribution was built in Manhattan and successfully supplied electricity to dozens of businesses, residences, streetlights, theaters, and other entertainment venues. This advancement was a revolutionary invention and led to the development of all homes receiving power through an electrical grid system. Throughout his lifetime, Thomas Edison continued to gift the world with revolutionary inventions. Other than the lightbulb, one of his most notable inventions was the phonograph, which allowed the recording and playback of sound. Edison also invented the Kinetograph, which was a device for recording motion pictures. These two inventions are responsible for the creation and success of today’s entertainment industry. Other than the lightbulb, two of Edison's most notable inventions were the phonograph and Kinetograph.Thomas Edison’s inventions significantly impacted the world. Edison faced many setbacks and failed experiments but continued on, demonstrating determination and resilience. His gift for entrepreneurialism aided in monetizing his inventions and later establishing the Edison General Electric Company, now known as General Electric. Edison’s advancements in the electric utility industry are a direct result of his innovation and business acumen. By the time of his death, Thomas Edison had transformed the world and received several honors and awards for his revolutionary contributions. From his dedication and innovation to his advancements for the modern world, Edison’s legacy continues to influence inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs. When was Thomas Edison born?Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847. When did Thomas Edison die?Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931. How did Thomas Edison become famous?Thomas Edison became famous through his innovative inventions that would later transform the way the world uses electricity. He is best known for his incandescent lightbulb, the phonograph, and for advancing electrical power distribution. How did Thomas Edison change the world?Thomas Edison’s influence on the world cannot be overstated. A majority of everyday things are possible because of Thomas Edison’s inventions and contributions to science. Some of his inventions that you would easily recognize include electrical lighting, sound recording, and motion pictures. 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Potter’s studio is where the magic happens! Every part of the process except for fiberglassing the body is done here. Figures are sculpted, painted, dressed, and detailed in view of guests. ![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://www.potterswaxmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/banner-potters2.jpg) LET´S KEEP IN TOUCHSign up to receive special offers & events information. *Your email and personal information will never be shared. Thomas Edison, 1847-1931: America's Great InventorWelcome to the VOA Special English program, PEOPLE IN AMERICA . Today, Sarah Long and Bob Doughty tell about the inventor Thomas Alva Edison. He had a major effect on the lives of people around the world. Thomas Edison is remembered most for the electric light, his phonograph and his work with motion pictures. Thomas Edison's major inventions were designed and built in the last years of the eighteen hundreds. However, most of them had their greatest effect in the twentieth century. His inventions made possible the progress of technology. It is extremely difficult to find anyone living today who has not been affected in some way by Thomas Edison. Most people on Earth have seen some kind of motion picture or heard some kind of sound recording. And almost everyone has at least seen an electric light. These are only three of the many devices Thomas Edison invented or helped to improve. People living in this century have had easier and more enjoyable lives because of his inventions. Thomas Alva Edison was born on February eleventh, eighteen forty-seven in the small town of Milan, Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children. Thomas Edison was self-taught. He went to school for only three months. His teacher thought he could not learn because he had a mental problem. But young Tom Edison could learn. He learned from books and he experimented. At the age of ten, he built his own chemical laboratory. He experimented with chemicals and electricity. He built a telegraph machine and quickly learned to send and receive telegraph messages. At the time, sending electric signals over wires was the fastest method of sending information long distances. At the age of sixteen, he went to work as a telegraph operator. He later worked in many different places. He continued to experiment with electricity. When he was twenty-one, he sent the United States government the documents needed to request the legal protection for his first invention. The government gave him his first patent on an electric device he called an Electrographic Vote Recorder. It used electricity to count votes in an election. In the summer months of eighteen sixty-nine, the Western Union Telegraph Company asked Thomas Edison to improve a device that was used to send financial information. It was called a stock printer. Mr. Edison very quickly made great improvements in the device. The company paid him forty thousand dollars for his effort. That was a lot of money for the time. This large amount of money permitted Mr. Edison to start his own company. He announced that the company would improve existing telegraph devices and work on new inventions. Mr. Edison told friends that his new company would invent a minor device every ten days and produce what he called a "big trick" about every six months. He also proposed that his company would make inventions to order. He said that if someone needed a device to do some kind of work, just ask and it would be invented. Within a few weeks Thomas Edison and his employees were working on more than forty different projects. They were either new inventions or would lead to improvements in other devices. Very quickly he was asking the United States government for patents to protect more than one hundred devices or inventions each year. He was an extremely busy man. But then Thomas Edison was always very busy. He almost never slept more than four or five hours a night. He usually worked eighteen hours each day because he enjoyed what he was doing. He believed no one really needed much sleep. He once said that anyone could learn to go without sleep. Thomas Edison did not enjoy taking to reporters. He thought it was a waste of time. However, he did talk to a reporter in nineteen seventeen. He was seventy years old at the time and still working on new devices and inventions. The reporter asked Mr. Edison which of his many inventions he enjoyed the most. He answered quickly, the phonograph. He said the phonograph was really the most interesting. He also said it took longer to develop a machine to reproduce sound than any other of his inventions. Thomas Edison told the reporter that he had listened to many thousands of recordings. He especially liked music by Brahms, Verdi and Beethoven. He also liked popular music. Many of the recordings that Thomas Edison listened to in nineteen seventeen can still be enjoyed today. His invention makes it possible for people around the world to enjoy the same recorded sound. The reporter also asked Thomas Edison what was the hardest invention to develop. He answered quickly again -- the electric light. He said that it was the most difficult and the most important. Before the electric light was invented, light was provided in most homes and buildings by oil or natural gas. Both caused many fires each year. Neither one produced much light. Mr. Edison had seen a huge and powerful electric light. He believed that a smaller electric light would be extremely useful.He and his employees began work on the electric light. An electric light passes electricity through material called a filament or wire. The electricity makes the filament burn and produce light. Thomas Edison and his employees worked for many months to find the right material to act as the filament. Time after time a new filament would produce light for a few moments and then burn up. At last Mr. Edison found that a carbon fiber produced light and lasted a long time without burning up. The electric light worked. At first, people thought the electric light was extremely interesting but had no value. Homes and businesses did not have electricity. There was no need for it. Mr. Edison started a company that provided electricity for electric lights for a small price each month. The small company grew slowly at first. Then it expanded rapidly. His company was the beginning of the electric power industry. Thomas Edison also was responsible for the very beginnings of the movie industry. While he did not invent the idea of the motion picture, he greatly improved the process. He also invented the modern motion picture film. When motion pictures first were shown in the late eighteen hundreds, people came to see movies of almost anything -- a ship, people walking on the street, new automobiles. But in time, these moving pictures were no longer interesting. In nineteen-oh-three, an employee of Thomas Edison's motion picture company produced a movie with a story. It was called "The Great Train Robbery." It told a simple story of a group of western criminals who steal money from a train. Later they are killed by a group of police in a gun fight. The movie was extremely popular. "The Great Train Robbery" started the huge motion picture industry. Thomas Alva Edison is remembered most for the electric light, his phonograph and his work with motion pictures. However, he also invented several devices that greatly improved the telephone. He improved several kinds of machines called generators that produced electricity. He improved batteries that hold electricity. He worked on many different kinds of electric motors including those for electric trains. Mr. Edison also is remembered for making changes in the invention process. He moved from the Nineteenth Century method of an individual doing the inventing to the Twentieth Century method using a team of researchers. In nineteen thirteen, a popular magazine at the time called Thomas Edison the most useful man in America. In nineteen twenty-eight, he received a special medal of honor from the Congress of the United States. Thomas Edison died on January sixth, nineteen thirty-one. In the months before his death he was still working very hard. He had asked the government for legal protection for his last invention. It was patent number one thousand ninety-three. This Special English program was written and produced by Paul Thompson. The announcers were Sarah Long and Bob Doughty. I'm Mary Tillotson. Join us again next week for another PEOPLE IN AMERICA program on the Voice of America. This page is part of Stories About People which is part of Interesting Things for ESL Students . Thomas Edison![thomas edison small biography Portrait of Thomas Edison sitting down](https://www.ducksters.com/history/graphics/thomas_edison.jpg) - Occupation: Businessman and Inventor
- Born: February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio
- Died: October 18, 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey
- Best known for: Inventing many useful items including the phonograph and a practical light bulb
![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://www.ducksters.com/history/graphics/thomas_edison_phonograph.jpg) - His middle name was Alva and his family called him Al.
- His first two kids had the nicknames Dot and Dash.
- He set up his first lab in his parent's basement at the age of 10.
- He was partially deaf.
- His first invention was an electric vote recorder.
- His 1093 patents are the most on record.
- He said the words to "Mary had a little lamb" as the first recorded voice on the phonograph.
- Listen to a recorded reading of this page:
![thomas edison small biography Light bulb by Tomas Edison](https://www.ducksters.com/history/graphics/thomas_edison_light_bulb.jpg) ![The Fact File The Fact File](https://c767113787.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/fact-file-logo3.png) 52 Thomas Edison Facts: Interesting Facts About Thomas EdisonLast updated on March 25th, 2023 Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He is a renowned scientist all over the world for his famous work related to the electric light bulb and many other innovations. With 52 interesting facts about Thomas Edison, let’s learn more about his childhood, personal life, inventions, patents, laboratories and more… Facts about Thomas Edison’s childhood and early years1. Surprisingly, Edison did not learn to talk until he was almost four years old. 2. Thomas Edison’s forehead was unusually broad, and his head was considerably larger than average. 3. During his childhood, Edison narrowly escaped from drowning in the barge canal that ran alongside his home. ![thomas edison small biography Thomas Edison and George Eastman standing with motion picture camera ca. 1925.](https://c767113787.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Thomas-Edison-1847-1931-and-George-Eastman-1854-1932-standing-with-motion-picture-camera-ca.-1925.-min.jpg) 4. In 1854, at the age of seven, Edison attended school for a short period of 12 weeks. Being a hyperactive child and prone to distraction, Edison’s teachers could not handle him. His mother removed him from school and tutored him at home until the age of 11. Thus, Edison had very little formal education as a child. 5. The removal of Edison from school proved beneficial for his career, as he developed self-learning skills with his ever increasing appetite for knowledge and reading. 6. Edison was fond of Shakespeare’s plays and wanted to be an actor. However, due to his high-pitched voice and his extreme shyness before every audience, he soon gave up the idea. 7. Edison enjoyed reading and reciting poetry. His life-long favorite was Thomas Gray’s “Elegy In A Country Churchyard.” Here is a line that he chanted endlessly: “The boast of heraldry of pomp and power, All that beauty all that wealth ere gave, Alike await the inevitable hour. The path to glory leads but to the grave.” 8. Edison, out of his curiosity and appetite to learn, read every book in the library starting with the last book on the bottom of the shelf. However, his parents guided him to become more selective with his reading. ![thomas edison small biography Workplace of telegraph operator at the Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci, Milan, Italy.](https://c767113787.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Workplace-of-telegraph-operator-at-the-Science-and-Technology-Museum-Leonardo-da-Vinci-Milan-Italy.-min.jpg) 9. In the beginning of his life, Edison worked as a telegraph operator. This job inspired many of his inventions in the telecommunications field. 10. Thomas Edison was nearly deaf as an adult as he became affected with scarlet fever and ear infections in the early years of his life. However, Edison cited a train accident as the cause of his hearing loss. 11. At the age of thirteen, after selling newspapers for a short time, Edison decided to publish his own newspaper —the Grand Trunk Herald—and sell copies to his existing clients. He published up-to-date stories that became a hit with his customers. 12. During this time, Edison also set up a small laboratory in a baggage car. However, during one of his experiments a chemical fire started and the car caught fire. Edison was forced to leave the train and sell newspapers once again. 13. Edison had a chance to improve his hearing by way of an operation; however, he refused to take the option. He simply did not want to go through the difficulty of relearning how to channel his thinking in a noisier world. 14. A significant event in Edison’s life: Edison got a chance to learn to operate a telegraph when he saved a three-year-old from a train accident. The child’s grateful father, the station’s agent, taught Edison telegraphy as a reward. 15. At the age of 16, Edison became a proficient telegrapher and started working as one full-time. 16. Edison also worked for The Associated Press for some time. However, he had to leave his job because of the progress of technology and his hearing disability, which did not allow him to continue his work for the company. He became employed again with the Western Union Company. Facts about Thomas Edison’s inventions17. In 1876, he set up his first lab in Menlo Park, California . This was the world’s first industrial research laboratory. In some sense, this laboratory is also considered one of his greatest inventions. It was well equipped, and is where Edison worked to change the world. 18. Thomas Edison was dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park.” 19. Edison invented the world’s first practical incandescent light. It took him one and a half years to build the lamp, which burned for thirteen and a half hours. The lamp had a filament of carbonized sewing thread. ![thomas edison small biography Thomas Edisons first successful light bulb model, used in public demonstration at Menlo Park, December 1879.](https://c767113787.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Thomas-EdisonGÇÖs-first-successful-light-bulb-model-used-in-public-demonstration-at-Menlo-Park-December-1879.-min.jpg) 20. On December 31 st 1879, the Menlo Park laboratory complex was electrically lit for the first time, which demonstrated to the public the great invention that Edison had engineered. Interestingly, Albert Einstein was born in the same year. 21. Edison invented an electric light bulb, while Einstein gave the world one of the most famous equations explaining the relationship between energy, mass and the speed of light. The equation is E=MC 2 . 22. Edison’s first invention in Menlo Park was the tin foil phonograph. He was invited to demonstrate it to the president of the United States–Rutherford B. Hayes–in the White House. 23. Some of his inventions, including the electric bulb and motion pictures, have pioneered many other industries in the world. 24. He also developed the first electric power generation and distribution system that would supply electricity to homes in the region. 25. Edison invented the machine for electrically recording and counting votes cast by members of a legislative body, but it was of no commercial value, so he decided to invent only those things that people would want to buy. 26. A funny fact about Edison is that he even made a device to kill cockroaches with electricity. 27. Edison lost millions of dollars while experimenting to invent a method of separating ore from rock. It was the biggest failure of his lifetime. 28. Tomas Edison is the first person in the world to project a motion picture. He did so successfully on April 23, 1896. ![thomas edison small biography A photograph of Henry Ford, Thomas Alva Edison, and Harvey Samuel Firestone- the fathers of modernity.](https://c767113787.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/A-photograph-of-Henry-Ford-Thomas-Alva-Edison-and-Harvey-Samuel-Firestone-the-fathers-of-modernity-min.jpg) 29. Edison also designed a battery for the self-starter for the Model T developed by Henry Ford . 30. The phonograph was Edison’s most famous invention. 31. The first of his breakthrough inventions, which yielded him a sum of $40,000, was an improved stock ticker. This was called the “Universal Stock Printer.” At the time of this invention, Edison was only 22 years old. The new financial freedom allowed Edison to focus on his inventions and get involved with them full-time. Facts about Edison’s family and children32. By the early 1870s, Edison was a rich man and married a 16-year-old employee at one of his businesses. 33. Edison’s first wife, Mary, died in 1884. Edison remarried in 1886 after falling in love with Mina Miller. 34. Edison nicknamed two of his children he had with his first wife “Dot” and “Dash” in honor of his early telegraph days. . . . continue reading on the next page. - Privacy Policy
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The Edison laboratory![thomas edison small biography Watch a silent short of Thomas Edison, who invented the phonograph and incandescent electric light](https://cdn.britannica.com/03/20703-138-9F69D60C/Thomas-Edison-life-video-history-American-invention.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop) - How did Thomas Edison become famous?
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A widower with three young children, Edison, on February 24, 1886, married 20-year-old Mina Miller, the daughter of a prosperous Ohio manufacturer. He purchased a hilltop estate in West Orange , New Jersey , for his new bride and constructed nearby a grand, new laboratory, which he intended to be the world’s first true research facility. There, he produced the commercial phonograph , founded the motion-picture industry, and developed the alkaline storage battery . Nevertheless, Edison was past the peak of his productive period. A poor manager and organizer, he worked best in intimate , relatively unstructured surroundings with a handful of close associates and assistants; the West Orange laboratory was too sprawling and diversified for his talents. Furthermore, as a significant portion of the inventor’s time was taken up by his new role of industrialist, which came with the commercialization of incandescent lighting and the phonograph, electrical developments were passing into the domain of university-trained mathematicians and scientists. Above all, for more than a decade Edison’s energy was focused on a magnetic ore-mining venture that proved the unquestioned disaster of his career. ![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://cdn.britannica.com/54/79854-050-715E803F/Thomas-Alva-Edison-laboratory-assistant-West-Orange.jpg?w=300) Recent NewsThe first major endeavour at the new laboratory was the commercialization of the phonograph, a venture launched in 1887 after Alexander Graham Bell , his cousin Chichester, and Charles Tainter had developed the graphophone—an improved version of Edison’s original device—which used waxed cardboard instead of tinfoil. Two years later, Edison announced that he had “perfected” the phonograph, although this was far from true. In fact, it was not until the late 1890s, after Edison had established production and recording facilities adjacent to the laboratory, that all the mechanical problems were overcome and the phonograph became a profitable proposition. ![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://cdn.britannica.com/40/148840-050-882D3388/Advertisement-Thomas-Alva-Edison-Vitascope.jpg?w=300) In the meantime, Edison conceived the idea of popularizing the phonograph by linking to it in synchronization a zoetrope, a device that gave the illusion of motion to photographs shot in sequence. He assigned the project to William K.L. Dickson , an employee interested in photography , in 1888. After studying the work of various European photographers who also were trying to record motion, Edison and Dickson succeeded in constructing a working camera and a viewing instrument, which were called, respectively, the Kinetograph and the Kinetoscope . Synchronizing sound and motion proved of such insuperable difficulty, however, that the concept of linking the two was abandoned, and the silent movie was born. Edison constructed at the laboratory the world’s first motion-picture stage, nicknamed the “Black Maria,” in 1893, and the following year Kinetoscopes, which had peepholes that allowed one person at a time to view the moving pictures, were introduced with great success. Rival inventors soon developed screen-projection systems that hurt the Kinetoscope’s business, however, so Edison acquired a projector developed by Thomas Armat and introduced it as “Edison’s latest marvel, the Vitascope .” Another derivative of the phonograph was the alkaline storage battery , which Edison began developing as a power source for the phonograph at a time when most homes still lacked electricity. Although it was 20 years before all the difficulties with the battery were solved, by 1909 Edison was a principal supplier of batteries for submarines and electric vehicles and had even formed a company for the manufacture of electric automobiles . In 1912 Henry Ford , one of Edison’s greatest admirers, asked him to design a battery for the self-starter, to be introduced on the Model T . Ford’s request led to a continuing relationship between these two Americans, and in October 1929 he staged a 50th-anniversary celebration of the incandescent light that turned into a universal apotheosis for Edison. ![thomas edison small biography Vintage engraving from 1878 of the spinning room in Shadwell Rope Works. View of the factory floor. Industrial revolution](https://cdn.britannica.com/58/223158-050-A61FA1C8/spinning-room-in-Shadwell-Rope-Works.jpg) Most of Edison’s successes involved electricity or communication , but throughout the late 1880s and early 1890s the Edison Laboratory’s top priority was the magnetic ore-separator. Edison had first worked on the separator when he was searching for platinum for use in the experimental incandescent lamp . The device was supposed to cull platinum from iron -bearing sand . During the 1880s iron ore prices rose to unprecedented heights, so that it appeared that, if the separator could extract the iron from unusable low-grade ores , then abandoned mines might profitably be placed back in production. Edison purchased or acquired rights to 145 old mines in the east and established a large pilot plant at the Ogden mine, near Ogdensburg , New Jersey . He was never able to surmount the engineering problems or work the bugs out of the system, however, and when ore prices plummeted in the mid-1890s he gave up on the idea. By then he had liquidated all but a small part of his holdings in the General Electric Company , sometimes at very low prices, and had become more and more separated from the electric lighting field. Failure could not discourage Edison’s passion for invention , however. Although none of his later projects were as successful as his earlier ones, he continued to work even in his 80s. ![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://cdn.britannica.com/49/79849-050-96C5DD23/Thomas-Alva-Edison-birthday.jpg?w=300) The thrust of Edison’s work may be seen in the clustering of his patents: 389 for electric light and power, 195 for the phonograph , 150 for the telegraph , 141 for storage batteries , and 34 for the telephone . His life and achievements epitomize the ideal of applied research. He always invented for necessity, with the object of devising something new that he could manufacture. The basic principles he discovered were derived from practical experiments, invariably by chance, thus reversing the orthodox concept of pure research leading to applied research. Edison’s role as a machine shop operator and small manufacturer was crucial to his success as an inventor. Unlike other scientists and inventors of the time, who had limited means and lacked a support organization, Edison ran an inventive establishment. He was the antithesis of the lone inventive genius , although his deafness enforced on him an isolation conducive to conception . His lack of managerial ability was, in an odd way, also a stimulant. As his own boss, he plunged ahead on projects more prudent men would have shunned, then tended to dissipate the fruits of his inventiveness, so that he was both free and forced to develop new ideas. Few men have matched him in the positiveness of his thinking. Edison never questioned whether something might be done, only how. ![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/148835-050-82FCD485/Thomas-Alva-Edison-1911.jpg?w=300) Edison’s career, the fulfillment of the American dream of rags-to-riches through hard work and intelligence , made him a folk hero to his countrymen. In temperament he was an uninhibited egotist, at once a tyrant to his employees and their most entertaining companion, so that there was never a dull moment with him. He was charismatic and courted publicity, but he had difficulty socializing and neglected his family. His shafts at the expense of the “long-haired” fraternity of theorists sometimes led formally trained scientists to deprecate him as anti-intellectual; yet he employed as his aides, at various times, a number of eminent mathematical physicists, such as Nikola Tesla and A.E. Kennelly . The contradictory nature of his forceful personality, as well as such eccentricities as his ability to catnap anywhere, contributed to his legendary status. By the time he was in his middle 30s Edison was said to be the best-known American in the world. When he died he was venerated and mourned as the man who, more than any other, had laid the basis for the technological and social revolution of the modern electric world. - Scientific Methods
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Thomas Alva EdisonThomas Alva Edison, being one of the most creative inventors of all time, was considered a true gem in the world of inventions. He also spent a significant part of his life giving contributions to the world of designs that had an incredible influence on modern life. The creation of the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, as well as improving the workings of telegraph and the telephone, were some of his astonishing inventions. Thomas Alva Edison was also a successful businessman and innovator who managed to change the lifestyle of people through his essential innovations and improvements in a wide range of fields. Table of ContentsAbout thomas alva edison, education, career and achievements, the invention of the light bulb, the phonograph. - Edison’s Contribution in the Field of Electricity
![Thomas Alva Edison Thomas Alva Edison](https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/thomas-alva-edison.png) Thomas Alva Edison was the phenomenal American inventor who holds the world-record of 1093 patents. Also, he created the world’s first industrial research laboratory. Edison was born on 11th February 1847, in Milan, Ohio – U.S. Edison’s patents and numerous inventions contributed significantly to mass communications and telecommunications. Stock ticker, phonograph, the practical electric light bulb , motion picture camera, mechanical vote recorder and a battery for the electric car were some of his notable inventions. He sold newspapers to passengers traveling along the Grand Trunk Railroad line during his early years. This led him to start his own newspaper named as the ‘Grand Trunk Herald’. The access to up-to-date information in this newspaper became quite a hit between the masses. Also, it was the first of the many more to come business ventures by Edison. - Thomas Alva Edison always had a thrust of knowledge within him, and due to that, at an early age, he started reading a wide range of books and different subjects.
- Edison’s higher education did not include any university or attending college; instead, he was primarily self-taught.
- The absence of a well-defined curriculum led him to develop the skill of self-education and independent learning, which remained with him all his life.
- He began his career as an inventor when he moved to New York.
- He devoted the decade of the 1870s to conducting experiments on the telephone, phonograph, electric railway, electric lighting, and other developing inventions.
- His first round of fame was brought by the design of the phonograph in 1877, which took his status to greater heights.
- He formed Edison Electric Light Company in 1878 in New York City.
- Achievement:
- He was felicitated with several awards and medals for his generous contribution to humankind.
- Some of them include the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. Navy and Congressional Gold Medal by the U.S. Also, he was decorated with the “Officer of the Legion of Honour” by France.
- He was welcomed into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and Entrepreneur Walk of Fame.
The greatest challenge faced by Thomas Alva Edison was to develop a practical luminous, electric light. He accomplished this using lower current electricity , an improved vacuum inside the globe and a small carbonized filament which is a stitched thread that burned for thirteen and a half hours. He was successful in producing a reliable, long-lasting source of light. Did Edison really invent the light bulb?![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/did-edison-really-invent-the-light-bulb.jpg) The tinfoil Phonograph was Thomas Edison’s first greatest invention in 1877. It was the first machine to record and play a person’s voice. Edison recited the rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on a tin cylinder that captured the recording. He also recommended other uses for the phonograph, such as letter writing and dictation, record music boxes, etc. Edison’s device phonograph played using cylinders rather than discs. It consisted of two needles, one for recording and one for playback. Edison’s contribution in the field of electricityA system of conductors , meters, current switches, etc. was designed by Edison as he knew that his light bulb invention would be ineffective without a proper method to deliver electricity. Edison improved the designs of generators, which led him to invent more efficient power output generators than the existing ones at that time. Hence, this was marked as the beginning of the electric age. For more such interesting articles, stay tuned to BYJU’S. Also, register to “BYJU’S – The Learning App” for loads of interactive, engaging Physics-related videos and an unlimited academic assist. Frequently Asked QuestionsName some of the incredible inventions of thomas alva edison.. Thomas Alva Edison is famous for his incredible inventions like the light bulb, phonograph and motion picture cameras. How did Thomas Alva Edison invent the lightbulb?Edison invented the light bulb by passing electricity through a thin platinum filament packed inside a glass vacuum bulb. What is a filament?A filament is a metallic thin wire or thread inside a bulb that lights up when electricity is passed through it. What is a phonograph?It is a form of gramophone using cylinders to record and reproduce sounds. How many times did Thomas Alva Edison fail while inventing the light bulb?Thomas Alva Edison made 1000 unsuccessful attempts before getting the final result. Leave a Comment Cancel replyYour Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked * Request OTP on Voice Call Post My Comment ![thomas edison small biography thomas edison small biography](https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Vector-2219-2.png) Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFsRegister with byju's & watch live videos. Thomas Edison's Near-Death Experience Set Him on the Road to Fame![Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/american-inventor-thomas-edison-1847---1931-driving-his-first-electric-locomotive-photo-by-hulton-archivegetty-images.jpg?crop=0.7594029850746269xw:1xh;center,top&resize=640:*) Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in the small town of Milan, Ohio, before moving with his family to Port Huron, Michigan in 1854. The youngest of seven children, young Edison was known as “Al” to friends and family. He was a bright child but struggled with traditional teaching methods of the time, and only briefly attended public school. Modern-day historians and medical professionals have surmised that Edison may have had Attention-Deficiency/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. His former schoolteacher mother home-schooled him, and he made use of his father’s small library, developing a lifelong love of reading. Edison's entrepreneurial streak started at a young ageEdison became fascinated with technology as a child and spent hours working on experiments at home. He developed hearing problems at an early age, through illness or an accident, which he later credited with helping, and not hindering, his success. He believed his hearing loss allowed him to avoid distractions and more easily concentrate on his work. In 1859, the Grand Trunk Railroad built a stop in Port Huron, connecting it to the city of Detroit some 100 miles away. Young “Al” got a job selling candy, newspapers and magazines on the train, traveling back and forth to Detroit several days a week. He spent his spare time reading in Detroit’s library and created his own small newspaper that he hawked on the train, earning extra income for the family and to fund his hobbies. ![Thomas Edison listening to a phonograph through a primitive headphone Thomas Edison listening to a phonograph through a primitive headphone](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/american-scientist-inventor-and-industrialist-after-spending-5-continuous-days-and-nights-perfecting-the-phonograph-listening-through-a-primitive-headphone-photo-by-hulton-archivegetty-images.jpg?resize=980:*) His rescuing of a small boy changed the course of his lifeOne of Edison’s early interests was in electrical telegraphy. This was the system of communication used to transmit messages long distances. It was also crucial to the operation of the new transcontinental railroads crisscrossing the nation in the decades after the American Civil War. Thanks to his frequent trips along the Grand Trunk, Edison became friendly with James U. Mackenzie, the station master and telegraph officer at nearby Mount Clemens. In August 1862, when Edison was 15, he was standing outside the Mount Clemens station, where freight cars were being transferred to a side track. When one of the cars approached the station at high speed, Edison noticed Mackenzie’s two-year-old son, Jimmie, playing on the tracks in the freight train’s path. Edison jumped into action, grabbed Jimmie and moved them both out of harm’s way. The pair received just minor wounds. A deeply grateful Mackenzie struggled to figure out how to thank Edison for saving his son’s life. The next day, he offered to teach Edison the Morse telegraphic system, developed by famed inventor Samuel Morse . Despite already having his job on the railroad, Edison immediately accepted, spending all of his free time with Mackenzie and practicing at home whenever he could. Edison’s telegraphy career was the launching pad for his later successWithin months, Edison had become proficient in the difficult Morse system, which required operators to quickly convert words and phrases into shortened code and vice versa. Despite his youth, he began working full-time as a telegraph operator. For many ambitious young men of the era, it was a career path that offered the opportunity for travel and advancement. In the 1850s, Andrew Carnegie had gotten his start as a telegraph operator, before building a career as a steel magnate, industrialist and philanthropist. Edison, working for Western Union Telegraph Company, traveled from city to city throughout much of the Midwest for the next six years, developing a particular skill in sending and receiving news reports. For a while he worked alongside reporters for the Associated News, forging friendships with newsmen who would help further his later career. He spent all of his downtime working on his experiments, which had now become focused on electricity and its possible uses. In 1868, he moved to Boston, and the following January, he received his first U.S. patent for a machine that electronically recorded votes in the Massachusetts State Legislature. He left his job as a telegrapher and moved to New York to devote himself to his inventions full-time. But it was the skills he learned thanks to his saving of Jimmie Mackenzie that brought Edison his first financial success. In 1874, he developed an advanced “quadruplex” system that allowed four separate signals (two in each direction) to be sent along a single telegraph line. Western Union, Edison’s former employer, purchased the rights to the invention for $10,000 (more than $215,000 in today’s money). Edison used the funds to build his first great, groundbreaking laboratory, at Menlo Park, New Jersey. Edison’s work in that lab, as the “Wizard of Menlo Park,” would lead to the invention of the phonograph, the first commercially viable electric lights, and hundreds of other scientific and technological innovations. ![Video player poster image preview for Biography Scientists & Inventors Playlist](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-3091504.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1200:*) Famous Inventors![louis braille louis braille](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/louis-braille-9224001-1-402.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*) Louis Braille ![Garrett Morgan assisting a victim of the 1916 Waterworks Tunnel disaster inventor garrett morgan helping responders lift the body of a tunnel disaster victim while wearing his safety hood device on his back](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/cribdisaster02-65d6403bb24bc.jpg?crop=0.775xw:1.00xh;0.0637xw,0&resize=360:*) Inventor Garrett Morgan’s Lifesaving 1916 Rescue ![Frederick McKinley Jones, May 1949, by Sharee Marcus, Minneapolis Tribune, - Inventor frederick mckinley jones, may 1949, by sharee marcus, minneapolis tribune, inventor](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/frederick-mckinley-jones-chief-engineer-for-thermo-control-news-photo-1707934600.jpg?crop=0.837xw:0.683xh;0.00814xw,0.0876xh&resize=360:*) Frederick Jones ![Lonnie Johnson in February 2016 lonnie johnson stands behind a wooden lectern and speaks into a microphone, he wears a black suit jacket, maroon sweater, white collared shirt and tie, behind him is a screen projection showing two charts](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/hfc9g9-65cf77a4cb657.jpg?crop=0.559xw:0.833xh;0.341xw,0.0738xh&resize=360:*) Lonnie Johnson ![Madam C.J. Walker driving in 1911 madam cj walker sits in the driver seat of an early car with the top down, a woman sits in the passenger seat, both women wear hats](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/photograph-of-sarah-breedlove-driving-a-car-she-was-better-news-photo-1707498999.jpg?crop=0.364xw:0.544xh;0.348xw,0&resize=360:*) 11 Famous Black Inventors Who Changed Your Life ![lewis latimer lewis howard latimer stares at the camera in a black and white photo, he wears a suit with a patterned tie and wire framed glasses](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/lewis-latimer-public-domain-64653aba9aafc.png?crop=1.00xw:0.613xh;0,0.0577xh&resize=360:*) Lewis Howard Latimer ![Nikola Tesla, circa 1890 nikola tesla looks at the camera while turning his head to the right, he wears a jacket and white collared shirt](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-666932578.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*) Nikola Tesla ![nikola tesla, plasma globe nikola tesla, plasma globe](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/nikola-tesla-aging-65b9619e0c305.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*) Nikola Tesla's Secrets to Longevity ![Garrett Morgan black and white image of garrett morgan, he wears a suit jacket, collared shirt, and tie and looks directly at camera](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/garrett-a-morgan-9414691-1-402.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*) Garrett Morgan ![sarah boone sarah boone stands for a portrait, she wears a dark dress with several buttons on the torso, her left hand rests on a chair back and her right hand rests on her hip with her elbow out](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/famous-inventors-sarah-boone-6414c0a412833.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*) Sarah Boone ![Henry Blair henry blair looks past the camera in a black and white photo, a uniform is just visible from his neck and shoulders](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/henry-blair-public-domain-64653d237e55b.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.989xh;0,0.0112xh&resize=360:*) Henry Blair ![SWEDEN-NOBEL-PRIZE-ARMS-DEFENCE statue of alfred nobel](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/bust-of-alfred-nobel-is-pictured-outside-bjoerkborn-manor-news-photo-1701205360.jpg?crop=0.573xw:0.861xh;0.362xw,0.139xh&resize=360:*) Alfred Nobel ![](//ortec.site/777/templates/cheerup1/res/banner1.gif) |
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Thomas Edison is credited with inventions such as the first practical incandescent light bulb and the phonograph. He held over 1,000 patents for his inventions.
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 - October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. [ 1][ 2][ 3] He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. [ 4] These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb, have had a widespread ...
Thomas Edison, the prolific American inventor and entrepreneur, revolutionized the world with his inventions such as the phonograph and practical electric lighting systems, forever changing our way of life.
Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor and businessman whose inventions include the phonograph, incandescent light bulb, motion picture camera and alkaline battery.
Edison Biography. Young Thomas Edison. Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio; the seventh and last child of Samuel and Nancy Edison. When Edison was seven his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. Edison lived here until he struck out on his own at the age of sixteen. Edison had very little formal education as a child ...
One of the most famous and prolific inventors of all time, Thomas Alva Edison exerted a tremendous influence on modern life, contributing inventions such as the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, as well as improving the telegraph and telephone. In his 84 years, he acquired an astounding 1,093 patents. Aside from being an inventor, Edison also managed to ...
Thomas Alva Edison was born February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio (pronounced MY-lan). In 1854, when he was seven, the family moved to Michigan, where Edison spent the rest of his childhood.
A Brief Biography of Thomas Alva Edison Written by John D. Venable
Inventor Thomas Edison's life was about more than just the light bulb. Find out more about this 20th-century trailblazer.
Thomas Edison Biography Thomas Edison (1847 - 1931) was an American inventor and businessman who developed and made commercially available - many key inventions of modern life. His Edison Electric company was a pioneering company for delivering DC electricity directly into people's homes. He filed over 1,000 patents for a variety of different inventions. Crucially, he used mass-produced ...
Biography of Thomas Edison, American Inventor Thomas Edison at the lightbulb's golden jubilee anniversary banquet in his honor, Orange, New Jersey, October 16, 1929.
Thomas Alva Edison, (born Feb. 11, 1847, Milan, Ohio, U.S.—died Oct. 18, 1931, West Orange, N.J.), U.S. inventor. He had very little formal schooling. He set up a laboratory in his father's basement at age 10; at 12 he was earning money selling newspapers and candy on trains. He worked as a telegrapher (1862-68) before deciding to pursue ...
Thomas Alva Edison is one of the greatest American inventors who held countless patents, majority of them related to electricity and power. While two of his most famous inventions are the incandescent lamp and the phonograph, arguably the most significant invention of Edison is considered to be large-scale organized research.
A proud descendant of the distinguished old Elliot family of New England, New York born Nancy Edison was the devout and charming daughter of a highly respected Presbyterian minister, as well as an accomplished educator in her own right. After the above incident, she commenced teaching her favorite son the "Three R's" and the Bible.
Born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, Thomas Edison was a notable inventor and businessman. As a child, Edison received minimal education, but his curiosity and determination to learn about the fields of science and technology ultimately led him to become one of America's most notable inventors. Thomas Edison's commitment to ...
People living in this century have had easier and more enjoyable lives because of his inventions. Thomas Alva Edison was born on February eleventh, eighteen forty-seven in the small town of Milan, Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children. Thomas Edison was self-taught. He went to school for only three months.
Thomas Alva Edison has been described as America's young entrepreneur and greatest inventors. More about Thomas Edison's life, inventions and quotes.
Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847. His family soon moved to Port Huron, Michigan where he spent most of his childhood. Surprisingly, he did not do well in school and ended up being home schooled by his mother. Thomas was an enterprising young man, selling vegetables, candy and newspapers on trains.
Thomas Edison was an American inventor and entrepreneur. He was born Thomas Alva Edison on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. He was the last of seven children born to Samuel Edison, Jr. and Nancy ...
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He is a renowned scientist all over the world for his famous work related to the electric light bulb and many other innovations. With 52 interesting facts about Thomas Edison, let's learn more about his childhood, personal life, inventions, patents, laboratories and more…
Thomas Edison - Inventor, Innovator, Scientist: A widower with three young children, Edison, on February 24, 1886, married 20-year-old Mina Miller, the daughter of a prosperous Ohio manufacturer. He purchased a hilltop estate in West Orange, New Jersey, for his new bride and constructed nearby a grand, new laboratory, which he intended to be the world's first true research facility. There ...
Thomas Alva Edison Thomas Alva Edison, being one of the most creative inventors of all time, was considered a true gem in the world of inventions. He also spent a significant part of his life giving contributions to the world of designs that had an incredible influence on modern life. The creation of the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, as well as ...
Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in the small town of Milan, Ohio, before moving with his family to Port Huron, Michigan in 1854.