...Thomas Alva Edison was the most prolific inventor in American history. He amassed a record 1,093 patents covering key innovations and minor improvements in wide range of fields, including telecommunications, electric power, sound recording, motion pictures, primary and storage batteries, and mining and cement technology. As important, he broadened the notion of invention to encompass what we now call innovation-invention, research, development, and commercialization-and invented the industrial research laboratory. Edison's role as an innovator is evident not only in his two major laboratories at Menlo Park and West Orange in New Jersey but in more than 300 companies formed worldwide to manufacture and market his inventions, many of which carried the Edison name, including some 200 Edison illuminating companies. Early Life Edison was born in 1847 in the canal town of Milan, Ohio, the last of seven children. His mother, Nancy, had been a school teacher; his father, Samuel, was a Canadian political firebrand who was exiled from his country. The family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, when Thomas was seven. He attended school briefly but was principally educated at home by his mother and in his father's library. In 1859 Edison began working on a local branch of the Grand Trunk Railroad, selling newspapers, magazines, and candy. At one point he printed a newspaper on the train, and he also conducted chemical experiments in a baggage-car laboratory. By 1862 he had learned enough...
Words: 978 - Pages: 4
...One of the most famous and prolific inventors, Thomas Alva Edison exerted a tremendous influence on modern life. It is undeniable that a variety of invention accelerated the arrival of modern life. Especially the electric light, it enriches people's night life. Surprisingly, he acquired an astounding 1,093 patents in his 84 years. Multiple of patents and inventions bring him a lot of fame and fortune. Childhood Thomas Alva Edison was born Sam and Nancy in February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. Alden and he is Samuel Edison and Nancy Matthews Eliot's seventh son. In 1854, to seek a better fortune, Edison‘s father moved the family to Port Huron, Michigan, where he worked in the lumber business. But in the same year, Edison father's business has...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
...Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born at Ulm, in Württemberg, Germany, on March 14, 1879. Six weeks later the family moved to Munich, where he later on began his schooling at the Luitpold Gymnasium. Later, they moved to Italy and Albert continued his education at Aarau, Switzerland and in 1896 he entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich to be trained as a teacher in physics and mathematics. In 1901, the year he gained his diploma, he acquired Swiss citizenship and, as he was unable to find a teaching post, he accepted a position as technical assistant in the Swiss Patent Office. In 1905 he obtained his doctor's degree. During his stay at the Patent Office, and in his spare time, he produced much of his remarkable work and in 1908 he was appointed Privatdozent in Berne. In 1909 he became Professor Extraordinary at Zurich, in 1911 Professor of Theoretical Physics at Prague, returning to Zurich in the following year to fill a similar post. In 1914 he was appointed Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Physical Institute and Professor in the University of Berlin. He became a German citizen in 1914 and remained in Berlin until 1933 when he renounced his citizenship for political reasons and emigrated to America to take the position of Professor of Theoretical Physics at Princeton*. He became a United States citizen in 1940 and retired from his post in 1945. After World War II, Einstein was a leading figure in the World Government Movement, he was offered the Presidency...
Words: 1394 - Pages: 6
...RESEARCH PAPER) Intro paragraph and thesis: Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. Edison had very little formal education (only a few months learning in school) as a child because of asking too many questions and then the teacher thought he’s a dull kid. He was taught reading, writing, and arithmetic by his mother, but was always a very curious child and taught himself much by reading on his own. This belief in self-improvement remained throughout his life. Edison could probably be properly called Mr. Electricity because of the many inventions and millions of dollars that he used and invested with electricity. From the invention of the light bulb, to the invention of the phonograph Thomas Edison made electricity a reality for the masses. He sparked the movement of today's computer ran world. Among his most notable inventions are the microphone, the phonograph, the electric lamp and light bulb, and the motion picture machine. He was the first to observe that electrons are emitted from a heated cathode, which was then dubbed the "Edison Effect." Edison is no doubt considered to be one of the greatest inventors in the world because of his numerous contributions to modern technology. A scientific genius who received only three months of formal schooling, Edison registered more than 1,300 patents (exclusive rights to make, use, or sell) for new inventions during his lifetime. Topic sentence 1: Edison was an exceptional inventor because he pooled resources...
Words: 535 - Pages: 3
...“Thomas Edison” “I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others, I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.” Thomas Edison once said. Thomas Alva Edison was one of America's greatest inventors. He was known for inventing the light bulb, phonograph, telegraph, and also work with electricity (“Edison” 78). Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847. Edison was the youngest out of Sam and Nancy's seven children. Edison grew up in Milan, Ohio. Later he and his parent's move to Port Huron, Michigan for better fortune. (“Biography of Thomas Edison ”). 1854, Edison started school, he was to poor to finish, so his mother took him out and home schooled him. In 1859, young Edison took on a job selling newspaper and candy on the Grand Trunk Railroad to Detroit. At the age of twelve, Edison lost almost all his hearing. People started blaming the conductor for the accident. (“Biography”) Thomas A. Edison was-known for being a hero in 1862 for saving a three-year-old from a boxcar. For helping the young child, J.U. Mackenzie, taught Edison railroad telegraphy as a reward. (“Edison” 78), That winter, he took a job as a telegraph operator in Port Huron. 1868 Thomas moved to Boston , where he worked in the Western Union office as a telegraph operator. In the middle of 1869, Edison moved to New York City. Edison did not have a place to stay so one of his close friends, Franklin L. Pope, allowed Edison to...
Words: 1296 - Pages: 6
...Thomas Edison: Inside the Mind of a Genius Thomas Alva Edison, perhaps America’s greatest inventor created many devices that influenced the world as it entered into a new era that included electricity. Although great as an inventor and entrepreneur, his personal life was in most accounts is said to be the complete opposite. My research sought out clues that might explain some of the personal views Edison had on life, politics, and religion; and how they may have influenced his life outside the laboratory. Thomas Alva Edison, nicknamed “Al” or “Little Al” was born on 1847 in the town of Milan, Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children; his father Samuel by tradition was a third generation farmer, and his mother Nancy a schoolteacher. At an early age Al was diagnosed with a hearing impairment, and because of this had very little formal education as teachers thought Al was mentally challenged. Being a schoolteacher, his mother Nancy decided to home school Al where he excelled in reading. Edison learned of the mystery of death early in his childhood. He and one of his friends went out wade in a swimming hole at a nearby creek. The two jumped into the water however only Edison surfaced. As the youngster called out for his friend, only bubbles rose to the surface leaving Edison to wonder where he had gone. Edison swam to the shore where he waited for hours for his friend, only to leave for home after he failed to return. It wasn’t until the police arrived at his home did...
Words: 1937 - Pages: 8
...months of August & September. The theme for these months is Luminous Lives. The spotlight will be on great people who have illumined the lives of those around them with their exemplary lives. These are people who have changed the world around them for the better. They showed people what courage is. They showed us what hard work and perseverance. They cut new paths and showed how to live life when surrounded by difficulties. For them failures were stepping stones to success. Each obstacle they faced became a rung in the ladder of success. Let us meet some of them. Thomas Alva Edison…. Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the electric light bulb. He has a record of 1093 inventions to his credit. Thomas A. Edison – Good afternoon I am Thomas Alva Edison. I would like to share with you two famous quotes attributed to me. One – A genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. My second quote is – I have found 10,000 ways of not doing a thing. Thank you. Vivekananda ….. Vivekananda restored India ‘s pride which was trodden under foot by the British rulers. He awoke in many Indians a spirit of nationalism. At the Chicago Parliament of religions he was called the cyclonic monk from India and an orator by divine right. Lets us hear an excerpt from his famous speech at Chicago which made him world famous overnight. Vivekananda...
Words: 527 - Pages: 3
...Tesla was a very smart man. He worked in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and was a physicist. The Technical University of Graz is where he went to college. While walking in 1882 Tesla had the idea of an A.C motor. He went to work for Thomas Edison in 1884. The two of them had very different ideas. Thomas Edison discredited Nikola Tesla and made him look like a crazy inventor who doesn't deserve to be heard. Who was Thomas Edison? Thomas Alva Edison was born February 11, 1847 in Ohio. When Edison was a boy he had...
Words: 780 - Pages: 4
...Thomas Alva Edison Thomas Edison could probably be properly called Mr. Electricity because of the many inventions and millions of dollars that he used and invested with electricity. From the invention of the light bulb, to the invention of the phonograph Thomas Edison made electricity a reality for the masses. And one of his greatest influences was from his Father a very positive man. A long with the great influence he had upon Americans and the world. He sparked the movement of today’s computer ran world. Thomas Edison was born February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He was the seventh and last child of Samuel Edison, Jr. and Nancy Elliot Edison. His parents had no special mechanical background. His mother was a former schoolteacher; his father was a jack-of-all-trades - from running a grocery store to real estate. When Thomas was seven years old, his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. He was a very curious child who asked a lot of questions. "Edison began school in Port Huron, Michigan when he was seven. His teacher, the Reverend G. B. Engle considered Thomas to be a dull student."(Allen pg. 22) Thomas especially did not like math. And he asked too many questions. The story goes that the teacher whipped students who asked questions. After three months of school, the teacher called Thomas, "addled". Thomas was pissed. The next day, Nancy Edison brought Thomas back to school to talk with Reverend Engle. The teacher told his mother that Thomas couldn't learn. Nancy also...
Words: 2154 - Pages: 9
...Born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, Thomas Edison is the quintessential American inventor. Before he died, he gave us the phonograph, the transmitter for the telephone speaker, an improved light bulb, and key elements of motion-picture apparatus, as well as other bright inventions. He also created the world's first industrial research laboratory. Edison died on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey. CONTENTS Synopsis Younger Years Early Career Becoming an Inventor Edison Illuminating Company Industrialist and Business Manager Final Years QUOTES "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." – Thomas Edison « prev1 / 2next » Younger Years Born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, Thomas Alva Edison was the last of the seven children of Samuel and Nancy Edison. Thomas's father was an exiled political activist from Canada. His mother, an accomplished school teacher, was a major influence in Thomas’ early life. An early bout with scarlet fever left him with hearing difficulties in both ears, a malady that would eventually leave him nearly deaf as an adult. In 1854, the family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, where Edison attended public school for a total of 12 weeks. A hyperactive child, prone to distraction, he was deemed “difficult” by his teacher. His mother quickly pulled him from school and taught him at home. At age 11, he showed a voracious appetite for knowledge, reading books on a wide...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...industrial revolution, modern day communications and the use of electric light bulb. The simplest things that we take for granted once were the greatest innovations of their time. Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Henry Ford are three of the greatest men that have contributed directly to a many things that we use in our day to day lives and without these men we would not be the advanced society that we are today. Reaching for a light switch is something we do every day. This is possible due to the contribution of Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio (Frith 5). He did not attain a formal education due to the poor family in which he was raised instead he started working on the railroad at age 12(Frith 14). Although Edison did not complete school, he continued to learn and experiment. Edison set up a printing press in the baggage car on the train and sold his own newspaper to the passengers (Frith 17). He retold the news from one end of the rail line to the other end of the rail line, allowing the people to be better informed of their neighboring towns. He was also able to have a small lab to perform scientific experiments, at least until his chemicals mixed together and started a fire in the baggage car (Firth 18). Edison then went to work at Western Union as he was fascinated with the telegraph. He was also consulted to improve on a very new technology, the telephone. It was a disappointment to...
Words: 1679 - Pages: 7
...Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, and grew up in Port Huron, Michigan. He was the seventh and last child of Samuel Ogden Edison, Edison developed hearing problems at an early age. The cause of his deafness has been attributed to a bout of scarlet fever during childhood and recurring untreated middle-ear infections Edison's family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, after the railroad bypassed Milan in 1854 and business declined;[10] his life there was bittersweet. Edison sold candy and newspapers on trains running from Port Huron to Detroit, and sold vegetables to supplement his income. He also studied qualitative analysis, and conducted chemical experiments on the train until an accident prohibited further work of the kind Edison obtained the exclusive right to sell newspapers on the road, and, with the aid of four assistants, he set in type and printed the Grand Trunk Herald, which he sold with his other papers.[11] This began Edison's long streak of entrepreneurial ventures, as he discovered his talents as a businessman. These talents eventually led him to found 14 companies, including General Electric, which is still one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world Edison began his career as an inventor in Newark, New Jersey, with the automatic repeater and his other improved telegraphic devices, but the invention that first gained him notice was the phonograph in 1877 This accomplishment was so unexpected by the public at large as to appear almost magical...
Words: 489 - Pages: 2
...imagination, even in his younger years. In terms of his scientific findings, Tesla further stated, “Electrical science has revealed to us the true nature of light, has provided us with innumerable appliances and instruments of precision, and has thereby vastly added to the exactness of our knowledge.” After school, Tesla began his booming career at the Budapest Telegraph Company as a chief electrician and latter engineer. He then moved to Paris where he worked as an engineer with the Continental Edison Company. Tesla even worked alongside Thomas Alva Edison for a short period of time, but due to the pairs disputes, decided to move to New York City in 1885. Here, with the George Westinghouse Electrical Company, Tesla began to work his magic. He invented mankind’s first alternating electrical current system in the year of 1885, which could transport energy into a grid. This AC system proved to be much more efficient than the direct current (DC) system invented by his past colleague, Thomas Alva Edison. Alternating current began to be implemented worldwide. The first documented implementation of the AC system was in 1893, when lighting Chicago’s World Columbian Exposition. Tesla was also a main influencer during the creation of wireless energy transfer, and contributed to the earliest demonstrations of fluorescent lighting, turbines, generators, remote controls, robotics, rader, and computer science. Furthermore, he assisted in the expansion of ballistics, as well as both nuclear and theoretical...
Words: 700 - Pages: 3
...Thomas Elva Edison was many things, he was an innovator, inventor, engineer, businessman and much more;born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, Thomas Edison ascended from modest beginnings to "The Wizard of Menlo Park" an inventor of major technology, setting up a shop in Menlo Park,and developing many products ,compiling a total 1094 patents, that included the telegraph, Magnetic Iron Ore Separator,the first commercially practical electric light bulb, Kinetograph (a camera for motion pictures)and Phonograph(a would record the spoken voice and play it back).In addition to his talent for invention, Thomas Edison was also a talented businessman, and manufacturer, often making his inventions well know using his incredible marketing skills.The...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...A man once made a movie of people going to the moon. He wished that people could hear what his characters. Well a man called Thomas Alva Edison made the first sound machine. It recorded the kid song “Mary had a little lamb.” Thomas called his machine the photograph. So the machine worked when you put tin foil around a cylinder and turn a handle. You shout as loud as you can into a tube. When you play it back you can hear a faint voice. After the foil was taken off it would no longer work. Later on someone made the same thing but with wax instead of foil. They would plug in a type of earbuds in and listen to the music. Someone else thought “Well what if we put this in a box, put a nickel in and I can listen to music?”...
Words: 260 - Pages: 2
