Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor, scientist, and businessman who developed many devices including the phonograph, the motion picture camera and an electric light bulb.

         Edison is the third most prolific inventor in history, holding 1,093 US patents in his name. He is credited with numerous inventions that contributed to mass communication. These included a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures.

         Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. In school, the young Edison's mind often wandered, and his teacher called him "addled". This ended Edison's three months of official schooling. His mother home schooled him. Much of his education came from reading. Edison developed hearing problems at an early age.          He sold candy and newspapers on trains and he sold vegetables. This discovered his talents of a businessman. These talents led him to found 14 companies.

         Edison became a telegraph operator. Edison's major innovation was the first industrial research lab, which was built in Menlo Park.