Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents in his name.1)
He was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, USA.2)
Edison had only three months of formal education.3)
His curiosity led to his early experiments, including once starting a fire in his family's barn while conducting an experiment.4)
Edison became partially deaf at a young age, possibly due to scarlet fever or a genetic condition.5)
At age 21, he received his first patent for an electric vote recorder.6)
He invented the phonograph in 1877, allowing sound to be recorded and reproduced.7)
Edison didn’t invent the first electric light bulb, but he created a practical, long-lasting bulb.8)
He established a research lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey, which became the world's first industrial research laboratory.9)
Edison developed the first electric power system, lighting up parts of Manhattan in 1882.10)
Edison was a proponent of DC, while his rival Nikola Tesla championed AC.11)
Edison and Tesla were involved in the “War of Currents,” a battle to dominate the electrical distribution market.12)
Edison worked on X-rays and improved the fluoroscope, a device used in early X-ray examinations.13)
He invented the Kinetoscope, an early motion picture camera.14)
Edison's lab created the first motion picture studio called the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey.15)
Edison married twice and had six children.16)
He invented the alkaline storage battery in 1901.17)
Edison developed a process for producing cement, a venture that led to the formation of Edison Portland Cement.18)
His invention of phonograph records led to the music industry's development.19)
Edison worked on creating a more efficient way to produce rubber, leading to the creation of a laboratory dedicated to this purpose.20)
He experimented with methods of preserving fruits and vegetables using heat.21)
One of his most well-known quotes is, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”22)
Edison created an early form of a hearing aid called the Phonograph.23)
Edison was known for working tirelessly, often sleeping only a few hours a night.24)
He had a voracious appetite for reading, believing it contributed to his inventiveness.25)
Edison reportedly slept for only three to four hours a night.26)
Edison and Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, were close friends.27)
He developed an improved carbon transmitter for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone.28)
Edison received numerous honors during his lifetime, including the Congressional Gold Medal.29)
Edison conducted extensive experiments in chemistry, including trying to mine iron ore magnetically.30)
He encouraged his employees to experiment and innovate freely.31)
Edison’s family played a significant role in his life, especially his mother, who home-schooled him.32)
He believed in the health benefits of certain foods and was interested in dietary fads.33)
Although commercially unsuccessful, Edison's electric vote recorder was his first invention patented at age 21.34)
Edison was so dedicated to his work that he often neglected his personal life.35)
Edison experienced numerous accidents in his lab, including one that injured his assistant, resulting in the loss of an eye.36)
He invested in various business ventures, some of which were unsuccessful.37)
Edison also worked on innovations in industry and infrastructure, including ore separation processes.38)
He had a keen interest in mining and tried to improve mining technology.39)
Edison experimented with various chemical solutions for batteries.40)
He foresaw the potential for rubber to become an industry of great importance.41)
Edison’s inventions were prominently displayed at various world fairs, showcasing his technological advancements.42)
Edison believed in learning from failures and famously said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”43)
His work laid the groundwork for many modern technological advancements.44)
Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931, at the age of 84, leaving behind an enduring legacy in innovation and invention.45)