Thomas Alva Edison (11 February 1847 – 18 October 1931) was an American inventor and businessman who lived in the early 20th century. Electric power generation he developed devices in the fields of mass communication, sound recording and filmmaking such as. His inventions such as the phonograph film camera and the first versions of the light bulb had a major impact on the industrialized modern world.

Birth and Education

Edison was born in Milan Ohio and was the youngest of seven siblings. When he was seven his family moved to Port Huron Michigan. His formal education was brief; after being removed from school due to dyslexia he was educated at home by his mother who was teacher. A curious child Edison acquired deep knowledge in physics and chemistry through self-study.

He began experiencing hearing problems as a result of a childhood disease and his hearing loss gradually worsened. This situation enabled him to focus more intensely on his work and reduced distractions from the outside world.

Career and Inventions

At the age of twelve Edison began selling newspapers and fruit on trains running between Port Huron and Detroit. Driven by his love of chemistry he converted part of the train into a laboratory; however he lost his job after a accident. He later worked as a telegraph operator and gained extensive electricity and telegraph technology on during this period. In 1874 he established an invention laboratory and soon became the owner of the most advanced research laboratory of his time. He gained fame in 1877 with the invention of the phonograph. He also built the first electric power station and held over a thousand patents. He founded the company General Electric which held a monopoly on electricity distribution in America.

Death

Edison died at the age of 84 in his home in New Jersey on 18 October 1931 due to diabetes complications. His legacy continues through his countless inventions and initiatives that laid the foundations of modern technology. Today Edison’s inventions are still in use across many fields from electricity to media.

Inventive Career

When Edison began focusing on his career as an inventor he quickly gained fame. Some of his most important inventions include:

• Phonograph (1877): The phonograph which was Edison’s first major invention was a device capable of recording and playing back sound. This invention earned him the nickname “The Wizard of Menlo Park”.

• Electric Light Bulb (1879): Edison’s most famous invention was a commercially viable and long-lasting electric light bulb. Edison did not invent the electric light bulb but he made it practical and widely usable.

• Electric Power Distribution System (1882): To popularize the electric light bulb Edison developed an electric power distribution system and built the first electric power grid in New York City.
• Motion Picture Camera (Kinetoscope 1891): Edison developed devices capable of recording and displaying moving images.
• Other Inventions: Numerous innovations for telegraph technology such as the quadruplex telegraph accumulators batteries and concrete production and construction technologies.
• Menlo Park and Research Laboratory: In 1876 Edison established a research laboratory in Menlo Park New Jersey. This laboratory is recognized as the world’s first industrial research laboratory and many of his inventions were developed there.

Patents and Achievements

Edison held 1093 patents in his name. This number makes him one of the most prolific inventors in history. Edison’s companies continue to exist today under the name General Electric (GE).

Personal Life

In 1871 Edison married Mary Stilwell and had three children with her. After Mary’s death he married Mina Miller in 1886 and had three more children with her. He was known throughout most of his life as an extremely hardworking individual and expressed this lifestyle with the famous quote “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”.