Thomas Edison is arguably the greatest inventor in American history. Not only did he invent many devices himself, but he improved on others and helped make major industrial progress. If Edison had not been born, who knows how long it would have taken for another to come along and reach the accomplishments he did.
Edison’s early history is eventful, as he was the seventh child in his family and much of his learning occurred informally. He was born in Milan, Ohio, in 1847, but he lived most of his childhood in Michigan. Notably, he was especially adept at working with chemistry sets.
The most memorable thing about Edison is his invention of the light bulb, but that barely scratches the surface of this astounding man. He had one-thousand ninety-three United States patents, as well as many others in Europe.
His contributions well exceeded small appliances. Edison was a chief engineer in the development of mass telecommunication and electrical distribution, both of which are necessary to our daily lives. He also started several power plants.
Despite his enormous intellect, Edison was known to be unfair and aggressive. For example, he offered Nikola Tesla fifty-thousand dollars in exchange for improving his company’s generators. When Tesla completed the task, Edison said he was joking, and then even refused Tesla a small raise.
Edison was a strong proponent of direct current electricity, while Tesla favored alternating current, which does happen to be the more efficient way of transporting electricity long distances. This was the chief reason they disagreed so much, although Tesla did end up winning the Edison Medal, which is the most prestigious medal in the electrical field.
In regards to the light bulb specifically, it is a perfect example of Edison’s determination. He had to try thousands of different filaments to find the one that worked properly, but it was only after he patented his initial light bulb that he found a much better filament, which was carbonized bamboo.
As for philosophical beliefs, Edison was a peaceful man who believed in non-violence and the power of nature. There are dozens of Edison memorials in existence, as well as businesses named after him. General Electric, one of the largest modern corporations, was founded by Edison, and his contributions to humanity will never be forgotten.
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