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Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children.
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At the age of 12, Edison had his first job with the Grand Trunk Railroad. His love of science inspired him to set up a chemistry lab on the train.
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Edison got his first patent for the electric vote recorder - an invention that would never be used.
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Edison created the first research & development space at Menlo Park, N.J. To be hired by Edison, a candidate had to pass a 150 question test. Try out the Edison Test by clicking the link.
[https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/education/the-edison-test.htm] -
Edison & his staff made an improvement on the light bulb that allows it to be used for over 1200 hours. Watch the video clip here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVL8ptff7yI]
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Edison's direct current (DC) system was widely used in the United States because it was easy to use. When alternating current (AC) systems were being used more than DC systems, Edison began spreading misinformation about the dangers of AC systems.
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Nikola Tesla - another famous scientist - developed the AC system while working for Edison.
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Edison was awarded his final patent (of 1,093 U.S. patents) for a tube-sealing machine. See if you've got what it takes to be a great inventor in this game. [https://www.nps.gov/features/edis/feat001/inventionprocess/ENHS.html]
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"The Literary Digest" & "The Electrical World of New York" reported that Edison & Tesla would share the Nobel Prize for Physics, but they did not. In fact, they were both denied the honor because they hated each other too much to share the award.
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Thomas Edison worked on inventions & projects until just months before his death. On the day of his funeral, the nation dimmed its lights for one minute to honor the man who had given so many ideas to the world.
