# Thomas Edison

> American inventor and businessman (1847–1931)

**Wikidata**: [Q8743](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8743)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thomas-edison

## Summary

Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and died on October 18, 1931, in West Orange from type 2 diabetes [12][1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][11][5]. His occupation included engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, businessperson, physicist, and mathematician [5][10][11], and his fields of work were invention, entrepreneurship, electrical engineering, and engineering [5]. He practiced deism as his religion .His father was Samuel Ogden Edison and his mother was Nancy Elliott [13][13]. He was married twice: to Mary Stilwell Edison from 1871 to 1884 and to Mina Miller from 1886 until his death in 1931 [5]. He had six children: Charles Edison, Theodore Miller Edison, Thomas Alva Edison Jr., Marion Estelle Edison Oeser, Madeleine Edison, and William Leslie Edison [5].Edison received multiple awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal, Commander of the Legion of Honour, Grammy Trustees Award, Benjamin Franklin Medal, Matteucci Medal, Rumford Prize, and two additional honors [14][15]. He is buried at Thomas Edison National Historical Park [16].

## Summary
Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman renowned for his prolific contributions to science and technology, most notably the development of the practical incandescent light bulb and the phonograph. His innovations and entrepreneurial ventures transformed industries and shaped modern life.

## Biography
- **Born**: February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, United States
- **Nationality**: American
- **Education**: Limited formal education; self-taught in science and engineering
- **Known for**: Pioneering inventions such as the incandescent light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera
- **Employer(s)**: 
  - Edison Machine Works (founded in 1880)
  - Edison Manufacturing Company (founded in 1889)
  - General Electric (merged in 1892)
- **Field(s)**: Electrical engineering, invention, entrepreneurship

## Contributions
- **Inventions**:
  - **Phonograph (1877)**: The first device capable of recording and reproducing sound.
  - **Incandescent Light Bulb (1879)**: Developed a practical, long-lasting electric light bulb.
  - **Motion Picture Camera (1888)**: Created the kinetograph, an early motion picture camera and viewer.
  - **Alkaline Battery (1899)**: Invented the nickel-iron alkaline battery, later used in electric vehicles.
- **Companies Founded**:
  - **Edison Illuminating Company (1879)**: Provided electric lighting systems for cities.
  - **Edison Studios (1882)**: One of the first film production studios.
- **Patents**: Held over 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, spanning electrical, mechanical, and chemical inventions.

## FAQs
### What were Thomas Edison's most notable inventions?
Edison's key inventions include the phonograph, incandescent light bulb, motion picture camera, and alkaline battery. These innovations revolutionized communication, lighting, and entertainment.

### What companies did Thomas Edison found?
Edison founded the Edison Illuminating Company, Edison Manufacturing Company, and Edison Studios. His work led to the formation of General Electric through a merger in 1892.

### What awards did Thomas Edison receive?
Edison received the Congressional Gold Medal, the Edison Medal, and the Matteucci Medal, among others. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

### How did Thomas Edison contribute to the film industry?
Edison developed the kinetograph and established Edison Studios, producing early films and contributing to the development of motion picture technology.

### What was Thomas Edison's educational background?
Edison had limited formal education but was self-taught in science and engineering, emphasizing practical experimentation over traditional schooling.

## Why They Matter
Thomas Edison's innovations fundamentally transformed daily life and industry. His inventions enabled practical electric lighting, sound recording, and motion pictures, laying the groundwork for modern technology. As an entrepreneur, he commercialized these inventions, driving economic growth and establishing the model for industrial research laboratories. His legacy extends beyond specific inventions to the culture of innovation and the integration of science with business, influencing generations of inventors and entrepreneurs.

## Notable For
- **Prolific Inventor**: Held over 1,093 U.S. patents, reflecting his diverse contributions to science and technology.
- **Industrial Pioneer**: Founded companies that became cornerstones of the electrical and film industries.
- **Awards and Recognition**: Received prestigious honors, including the Congressional Gold Medal and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
- **Cultural Icon**: Symbolized American ingenuity and the "self-made" inventor-entrepreneur.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, to Samuel and Nancy Edison. He grew up in Port Huron, Michigan, and had limited formal education due to hearing loss and restless curiosity. Edison was largely self-taught, driven by a passion for experimentation and reading.

### Career and Inventions
Edison's career began as a telegraph operator, where he developed early inventions to improve telegraphy. In 1876, he established his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, which became a model for industrial research. Key inventions from this period include the phonograph (1877), which could record and play back sound, and the practical incandescent light bulb (1879), which enabled widespread electric lighting.

### Entrepreneurial Ventures
Edison's entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of multiple companies. The Edison Illuminating Company (1879) provided electric power systems, while Edison Manufacturing Company (1889) and Edison Studios (1882) focused on film production and technology. His work culminated in the 1892 merger that formed General Electric, a conglomerate that dominated the electrical industry.

### Later Life and Legacy
Edison continued inventing into his later years, developing the alkaline battery and improving motion picture technology. He died on October 18, 1931, at his home in West Orange, New Jersey, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and industrial leadership. His approach to systematic invention and commercialization reshaped the relationship between science, technology, and business, cementing his status as one of history's most influential figures.

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1. [Source](https://www.biography.com/people/thomas-edison-9284349)
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