Edison

Thomas Edison (1847–1931)

Full Name: Thomas Alva Edison
Profession: Inventor, Businessman
Born: February 11, 1847 – Milan, Ohio, USA
Died: October 18, 1931 – West Orange, New Jersey, USA

💡 Key Contributions & Inventions

Electric Light Bulb
While he didn’t invent the first light bulb, Edison developed the first commercially viable incandescent bulb in 1879 with a long-lasting filament and an entire electrical system to power it.
Phonograph
Invented in 1877, it was the first device to record and reproduce sound. This breakthrough earned him the nickname “The Wizard of Menlo Park.”
Motion Picture Camera (Kinetoscope)
Edison and his team developed early film technology that laid the groundwork for the movie industry.
Electric Power Distribution
Created the first electric utility company and pioneered direct current (DC) power systems, which fueled the “War of Currents” against Nikola Tesla’s AC system.

🏢 Edison the Entrepreneur

Founded General Electric (originally Edison General Electric), one of the largest and most enduring corporations in history.
Held 1,093 patents, covering a wide range of fields: electric light, power systems, sound recording, motion pictures, and more.
He built the first industrial research lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey—a model for future R&D facilities.

⚡️ The War of Currents

Engaged in a fierce rivalry with Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse over AC vs. DC electricity.
Edison championed DC, even participating in a negative PR campaign against AC, but ultimately AC became the dominant system.

🧠 Personality & Work Ethic

Known for extreme persistence and tireless work—famous quote: “Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.”
Could be shrewd in business and competition, sometimes criticized for taking too much credit for team efforts.

🏅 Legacy

Edison is remembered as a symbol of American ingenuity and innovation.
Though some of his methods and business tactics are controversial in hindsight, his impact on technology and daily life is monumental.
He revolutionized modern life with electric lighting, sound recording, and motion pictures.

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