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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, which later became the basis of [[General Electric]]. | + | '''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]]. |
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| | Edison patented a then-record 1,093 inventions in his lifetime. His personal favorite was the [[phonograph]] -- which Edison invented despite being mostly deaf -- 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 -- 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. |
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| | [[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. | | [[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. |
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| − | 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 also founded the first commercial electric lighting company, the Edison Illuminating Company for [[New York City]] in 1880. | + | 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 also 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> |
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| | ==Childhood== | | ==Childhood== |