Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison
"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine
percent perspiration."
- Thomas Alva Edison, Harper’s Monthly
(September 1932)
Born
February 11, 1847(1847-02-11)
Milan, Ohio
Died
October 18, 1931 (aged 84)
West Orange, New Jersey
Occupation
Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Religious
beliefs
Deist
Spouse(s) Mary Stilwell (m. 1871–1884)
«start: (1871)–end+1: (1885)»"Marriage:
Mary Stilwell to Thomas Edison"
Location:
(linkback:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Thomas_Edison)
Mina Edison (m. 1886–1931)
«start: (1886)–end+1: (1932)»"Marriage:
Mina Edison to Thomas Edison"
Location:
(linkback:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Thomas_Edison)
Children
Marion Estelle Edison (1873–1965)
Thomas Alva Edison Jr. (1876–1935)
William Leslie Edison (1878–1937)
Madeleine Edison (1888–1979)
Charles Edison (1890–1969)
Theodore Miller Edison (1898–1992)
Parents
Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. (1804–1896)
Nancy Matthews Elliott (1810–1871)
Relatives
Lewis Miller (father-in-law)
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 –
October 18, 1931) was an American inventor
and businessman who developed many
devices that greatly influenced life around
the world, including the phonograph and the
long-lasting, practical electric
light bulb.
Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park" by a
newspaper reporter, he was one of the first
inventors to apply the principles of mass pro-
duction and large teamwork to the process of
invention, and therefore is often credited
with the creation of the first industrial re-
search laboratory.
Edison is considered one of the most pro-
lific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S.
patents in his name, as well as many patents
in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
He is credited with numerous inventions that
contributed to mass communication and, in
particular,
telecommunications. His
ad-
vanced work in these fields was an outgrowth
of his early career as a telegraph operator.
Edison originated the concept and imple-
mentation of electric-power generation and
distribution to homes, businesses, and facto