- Introduction
Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors in history. Often called “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” Edison developed many devices that changed the world, including the electric light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera. His work laid the foundation for the modern electric world.
- Early Life
- Born: February 11, 1847
- Place: Milan, Ohio, United States
- Parents: Samuel Ogden Edison Jr. (father), Nancy Matthews Elliott (mother)
Edison was the youngest of seven children. His father was a former political activist, and his mother was a teacher, who played a key role in educating him at home. Edison had very little formal schooling — only about three months — because his teachers thought he was “difficult” and “slow.”
- A Curious Mind
From a young age, Edison showed great curiosity and a love for reading and experiments. At age 12, he started selling newspapers and candy on trains and set up a small laboratory in a train baggage car.
His love for experimenting caused a small explosion on the train, and he was banned from the railway lab. He became partly deaf in both ears, possibly due to this incident or a childhood illness.
- Early Career and Inventions
The Telegraph and First Jobs
Edison began working as a telegraph operator in his teens, which introduced him to electrical science. He spent much of his time reading scientific books and experimenting with telegraphy.
First Inventions
- 1868 Edison patented his first invention: an electric vote recorder, but it failed commercially.
- 1871 He married Mary Stilwell, and they had three children.
- Menlo Park and Major Inventions
Menlo Park Laboratory (1876)
Edison built his famous laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his greatest inventions were created. This was the first industrial research lab in the world.
The Phonograph (1877)
One of Edison’s most original inventions was the phonograph, which could record and play back sound. It amazed the public and earned him worldwide fame.
The Light Bulb (1879)
Although he didn’t invent the first electric light, Edison created the first practical and long-lasting incandescent light bulb. He also worked on the entire electrical system including wiring, switches, and electricity generation to make it usable in homes.
- The War of Currents
Edison supported Direct Current (DC) for electric power, while his former employee Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse promoted Alternating Current (AC).
This conflict, called the “War of Currents,” was fierce. Although Edison lost, and AC became the standard, he continued to work on new inventions.
- Later Inventions and Achievements
Edison invented or improved more than 1,000 different devices. Some notable ones include:
- Motion Picture Camera (Kinetoscope)
- Electric Pen (early form of duplicator)
- Improved batteries
- Cement manufacturing methods
He also started many businesses, including what is now General Electric (GE), one of the largest companies in the world.
- Personal Life and Death
Family and Marriages
- Edison’s first wife, Mary Stilwell, died in 1884.
- In 1886, he married Mina Miller, and they had three more children.
Edison was known for working long hours and sleeping very little. He believed in hard work and once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Death
- Died: October 18, 1931
- Place: West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
- Age: 84
Edison died of complications from diabetes. In honor of his contributions, people across the U.S. dimmed their lights for one minute on the night of his funeral.