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| spouse = Mary Stilwell (d. 1884)<br>Mina Miller (d. 1947)

| spouse = Mary Stilwell (d. 1884)<br>Mina Miller (d. 1947)

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'''Thomas Alva Edison''' (1847–1931) was the greatest inventor ever, named by ''Life'' magazine as the most influential person of the second millennium. Edison's best-known inventions include the light bulb, the phonograph, the mimeograph, the electric typewriter, and an improved stock ticker. He also invented the central [[power station]] to provide electricity to many. One of his sons co-founded the [[Conservative Party of New York]].

'''Thomas Alva Edison''' (1847–1931) was the greatest inventor ever, named by ''Life'' magazine as the most influential person of the second millennium, and was the most famous [[American]] worldwide at the time. [[Homeschooled]], Edison's best-known inventions include the light bulb, the phonograph, the mimeograph, the electric typewriter, and an improved stock ticker. He also invented the central [[power station]] to provide electricity to many. One of his sons co-founded the [[Conservative Party of New York]].

Edison patented a then-record 1,093 inventions in his lifetime. His personal favorite was the [[phonograph]] -- which Edison invented despite being mostly deaf<ref>"I have not heard a bird sing since I was twelve years old," Edison wrote, and he described himself as being deaf. [https://www.nps.gov/edis/faqs.htm#:~:text=Was%20Edison%20deaf%3F,I%20was%20twelve%20years%20old.%22]</ref> -- and Edison's presentation of this at age 30 so astounded the world that he was nicknamed the "Wizard of Menlo Park."<ref>https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/edison/filmmore/transcript/index.html</ref> Edison subsequently became most famous [[American]] worldwide.

Edison patented a then-record 1,093 inventions in his lifetime. His personal favorite was the [[phonograph]] -- which Edison invented despite being mostly deaf<ref>"I have not heard a bird sing since I was twelve years old," Edison wrote, and he described himself as being deaf. [https://www.nps.gov/edis/faqs.htm#:~:text=Was%20Edison%20deaf%3F,I%20was%20twelve%20years%20old.%22]</ref> -- and Edison's presentation of this at age 30 so astounded the world that he was nicknamed the "Wizard of Menlo Park."<ref>https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/edison/filmmore/transcript/index.html</ref>  

[[Homeschooled]] as a child, Thomas Edison began working early as a successful telegraph operator but his deafness forced him to move beyond that occupation, which increasingly depended on the ability to hear sounds.

Thomas Edison began working early as a successful telegraph operator, but his deafness forced him to move beyond that occupation, which increasingly depended on the ability to hear sounds.

Edison created a battery for the [[Model T]], and was greatly admired by [[Henry Ford]]; Edison also founded an electric car company that was ahead of its time.<ref>https://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/thomas-edison-s-39-million-mistake/100938</ref>  Perhaps Edison's most important contribution was how "he helped to create a new institution for invention — the industrial research laboratory ..." <ref>http://edison.rutgers.edu/inventions.htm</ref>  Edison founded the first commercial electric lighting company, the Edison Illuminating Company for [[New York City]] in 1880.<ref>[[General Electric]] was ultimately formed based on Edison's work.</ref>

Edison created a battery for the [[Model T]], and was greatly admired by [[Henry Ford]]; Edison also founded an electric car company that was ahead of its time.<ref>https://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/thomas-edison-s-39-million-mistake/100938</ref>  Perhaps Edison's most important contribution was how "he helped to create a new institution for invention — the industrial research laboratory ..." <ref>http://edison.rutgers.edu/inventions.htm</ref>  Edison founded the first commercial electric lighting company, the Edison Illuminating Company for [[New York City]] in 1880.<ref>[[General Electric]] was ultimately formed based on Edison's work.</ref>