Thomas Edison (Thomas Alva Edison) (February 11th 1847 Ohio - October 18th 1931 New Jersey) called the magician of Menlo Park , is recognized like one of the inventive American S most important of the the United States. Founder of General Electric, one of the first world empires Industrial S, pioneer of the electricity, diffuser and popularisator and perfectionnor of technologies of before guard, car-proclaimed inventive of the Telephone, the Cinema and the recording of the his, it never hesitated to allot, without any scruple, quantity of inventions carried out by others, until asserting the record number of 1093 Brevet S (whereas the vast majority of those Ci either was repurchased for a ridiculous price, or briskly plundered over the back of his collaborators and competitors, such Nicolas Tesla, Alexander Beautiful Graham, Antonio Meucci, Georges Méliès). With its birth, the applications of the electricity did not exist, 84 years later, they light the whole world.

Biography

Self-educated childhood

It is born the February 11th 1847 with Milan in the Ohio. Wire of Samuel Edison, touch-with-all, Secondhand trade ur, grocer, real estate agent, Carpenter, etc Canadian of origin Dutchwoman and Nancy Elliot Edison, old Canadian Teacher of Scottish origin . He is junior by a modest family of seven children.

In 1853, whereas it is 7 years old, its family settles with Huron Port in the Michigan. Its professor, the reverend Engle, considers it then quickly as a stupid Hyperactif because it is too curious, raises too questions and does not learn quickly. After 3 months of course, his/her offusquée mother decides to even make him the school it. It supplements its basic training into perfect Autodidacte by devouring all the books of science of his mother.

First chemistry laboratory at 10 years

In 1857, 10 years old, Thomas has already a truth small laboratory of Chimie in the basement of his/her parents to develop his practical Intelligence.

In 1859, 12 years old, Thomas became newsvendor, drinks, cigars, cigarettes, candies, in the train of the “Large Railway Truck” which makes the daily return ticket Huron Port - Detroit. With the gained money, it buys a press of printing works of occasion which it installs in a baggage car for the drafting and the impression during the ways of its own minis weekly newspaper “Weekly Herald” drawn with 500 specimens.

In 1860 it is authorized to arrange its chemistry laboratory in its coach with luggage-printing works. It continues its experiments during the 5 hours halts to Détroit. It also is interested in the Télégraphe train invented in 1838 by Samuel Morse. A yaw of the train reverses one day its chemicals and causes a fire what is worth to him its immediate reference with its first: 2000 proudly gained dollars of commercial profit.

Practically deaf as of the old one 13 years

13 years old, it catches the Scarlatine of which it arises practically Sourd. This handicap will strongly influence its behavior, its career, the orientation of its work, its desire to improve the fate of humanity, justifies it for several inventions and multiplies by ten its greed for the reading in particular works of Chimie, electricity, Physique, Mécanique etc

Employee telegraphist of Western Union Telegraph Company

In 1862 Thomas heroically saves the baby of the station master of Huron Port which failed to be made crush by a train. To thank it, the officer agrees to teach him the Morse code and the use of sound Télégraphe during 2 months from formation. This new competence-passion enables him to find an use of telegraphist to Memphis.

In 1866 19 years old, it moves with Toronto with the Canada and finds an use of assistant-telegraphist to the Western Union Company. Its work consists with retransmettre in Toronto the messages received at each hour. It carries out its first invention then: it transforms its telegraph into “transmitter-receiver automatic Duplex of Code Morse” able automatically to transmit on the same cable two dispatches in opposite direction without intervention of employee, and deposits his first Brevet.

Then it returns as an itinerant operator of city downtown in all is the United States.

In 1868, 21 years old, expert in Telegraphy, Thomas is engaged as operator-telegraphist of night in Western Union Company of Boston and works in parallel on several projects of inventions including one automatic Machine of counting of vote which is not retained by the Congrès of the United States because considered to be too fast… It from of deduced one from its future basic great principles: “Never invent something that people don' T want” (never not to invent something that people do not wish).

In 1869 it tries its chance with New York, where it finds a room of fortune in the basements of Stock Exchange New York to Wall Street. He sleeps beside the Téléscripteur which transmits the courses of the Or on the financial markets, and studies this machine of near. He helps one day the telegraphist of the Western Union to solve an important breakdown on this telegraph and sees himself proposing a comfortable place of assistant of the chief engineer of the Western Union of New York, with for mission of improving the teleprinter of New York Stock Exchange.

Foundation of Edison Universal Stock Printer of New York

It founds then resells: 40000 dollars its first company “Edison Universal Stock Printer”, where it develops and markets its automatic Télégraphe multiplexed Brevet E which can transmit and print simultaneously several courses of quoted values.

In 1871, it marries Mary Stilwell, one of the employees of its 15 years old laboratory which will die prematurely at the 28 years age in 1884, leaving Thomas with three children. It will remariera in Mina Miller in 1886 with which it will have 3 other children.

Foundation of its industrial empire of Menlo Park

In 1874 with: 40000 dollars previously collected, it founds its own industrial empire of “Menlo Park” equipped with Laboratoire S of research to Newark in the New Jersey close to New York. It is precursory modern industrial research applied with 2 associated and a team of 60 paid researchers (instead of isolated researchers), supervises up to 40 projects at the same time, and deposits up to 400 patents per annum. It manufactures and markets the first Téléscripteur S which print at high-speed.

Invention of the telephone patented of accuracy before him by Beautiful

In 1876 it undertakes to develop the Téléphone but Alexander Graham Bell deposits its patent of not very front him. Edison then develops a Microphone with carbon cartridge which improves considerably the capacities of the telephone of its competitor.

Thomas Edison lives in his laboratory and sleeps only four hours per night. He says being able to work 48, to see 72 hours of sharp - what later proves to be false.

Invention of the Gramophone

In 1877 it completes the construction of the first true Phonographe able to record and of réécouter the human voice and of the sound, which it improves with the time (phonographic Cylindre of Acier covered of a sheet in tin and of a needle which engraves then reads 2 minutes of sounds collected or diffused by an ear trumpet). The following versions of this aircraft are at the base of the colossal industry of the recorded Musique.

In 1878 at the time of a fishing party to the “lake Veined Battle” of the Sierra in the Wyoming, it observes at which point the Fiber S of a piece of Bambou of its broken fishing cane thrown to the Feu shone without disintegrating. This observation inspired to him the idea of a Filament shining inside a incandescent bulb.

Foundation of General Electric

1878 Thomas Edison binds with business men among richest of New York and founds “Edison Electric Light Company”, which will become in 1889 “Edison General Electric Company”, then the General Electric in 1892.

The France decorates it with the rank of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor then of Commandeur of the Legion of Honor in 1889.

Invention and diffusion of the domestic electric bulb

In 1879 it deposits the patent of the Electric bulb containing Filament in bamboo of Japan under weak voltage in a bulb of vacuum glass, after having tested: 6000 vegetable substances sent to seek in the whole world, with a budget of: 40000 dollars.

Lewis Howard Latimer, engineer of Edison Company cures the main issue of the bulb with filament in bamboo, which roasts at the end of 30 h. In 1881, it thus patents, with his/her friend Joseph V. Nichols, the first bulb with incandescence with carbon filament; then obtains, only, in 1882, a patent for its assembly and manufactoring process of carbon filaments. Only Black member of the scientific research team of Edison, Latimer directs the installation of the system of the electric light to Philadelphia like to Montreal, in Canada. Then, one sends it to London, in Great Britain, where it is charged to assemble a department of incandescent lamps for Maxim-Weston Electric Light Company.

William Hammer, one of engineers de Thomas Edison, discovers starting from this invention the Effet Edison: emission of electron S by a hot Filament which will lead to the invention of the lamps of radio at the base of the electronic modern and of the Radiophonie.

In 1880 it illuminates on January 1st all the street, the library and the laboratory of Menlo Park with a dynamo and 40 electric bulbs low tension. It founds in October with the assistance of the large capital financial ones, its own factory of bulbs of “Edison Electric Light Company”. From May to June it deposits a series of 33 patents of “distribution complete of electric lighting domesticates”, generating electric, electric drivers, electrical motors, Fusible S etc It improves the patents of its predecessors such as Joseph Swan, Henry Woodward, James Bowman Lindsay and William Sawyer.

In 1881 the International exhibition of Electricity of Paris of 1881 propels Thomas Edison to the row of “international Symbole of modernity and the scientific social progress”.

Invention of the powerplant

In 1882 “Edison Electric Light Company” of Thomas Edison founds the first Powerplant world containing 6 Dynamo S “Jumbo” the September 4th to produce D.C. current in the district of Wall Street of Manhattan, of a capacity of 1.200 lamps to light 85 houses, offices or shops. Less than one year later, other power stations increasingly more powerful light more than 430 buildings New-yorkais with more: 10000 bulbs, follow-up soon by London.

In 1884, Edison (fervent supporter of the D.C. current) separates from its employee Nikola Tesla, one of the pioneers of the Alternative course, more dangerous but able to be conveyed on moreover long distance that the stubborn choice of Edison. The two men cannot get along. Edison uses of its relations in order to discredit Tesla with the eyes of the public opinion. In spite of that industry chooses quickly the development of the Alternative course.

Foundation of the industrial empire of Orange West close to New York

1887 Edison settles with West Orange in the New Jersey to multiply by 10 the size of its research laboratories on an immense industrial complex comprising 14 buildings including 6 devoted to the research and development, a factory of factory of bulbs, a central of electric production, a library and more: 5000 employees on the site. He declares: “I will make electricity so cheap that only the rich person will be able to treat to the luxury to use candles.”

Invention of the Kinetograph and the Kinescope

In 1888 Edison is also devoted to the great adventure of the pioneers of the Cinéma. It receives the photographer Eadweard Muybridge and invents the Kinétographe (It deposits his patent only with the the United States).

In 1892 it is decorated with the Albert Medal of the Royal Society off Arts of the United Kingdom.

Invention and foundation of the movie studios

In 1893 Edison founds with its assistant Producteur William Dickson, the first movie studios to project its films in its “Parlors Kinetoscope” (first rooms precursors of the Cinéma)

In 1895 he is prize winner of the Prix Rumford for its work on the electricity.

In 1902 his/her collaborators pay a projectionist of London in order to adapt a reel of the film the Voyage in the Moon of Georges Méliès adapted famous novel of Jules Verne, Of the Earth to the Moon. The reel is brought back to the United States and is duplicated in many specimens. The film is a great financial success for Edison, and causes the bankruptcy of Méliès.

Invention of Kinetophone its and image

In 1903 it markets a Caméra: Universal Projecting Kinetoscope able to record 12 images on film of 35mm.

In 1913 Edison invents the Kinetophone in synchronizing its Phonographe with its Caméra and its Kinétoscope and produces “first short film speaking” in the world. It becomes universally known under the nickname of “Magician of Menlo Park”.

Invention of the alkaline pile

In 1915 it invents the first pile Alcaline Nickel - Fer.

First World War

At the time of the First World War, Edison conceives and makes function chemical plants and is named president of the advisory committee of the American Marine.

In 1915 Thomas Edison is prize winner of the Franklin Médaille for its many contributions to the improvement of the Bien-être of the Humanité.

In 1928 it is decorated with the Gold medal of the Congrès of the United States for “the development and the application of inventions which revolutionized civilization during the last century”.

Disappearance

In 1930 82 years old, it carries out a test of: 17000 plants to produce synthetic gum.

In 1931 Thomas Edison disappears at age the 83 years the October 18th, on its site of West Orange in the New Jersey close to New York whereas it continues its work inlassablement and that it deposits his last patent before one year, after having deposited 1.093 patents and employee more: 35000 people in her industrial empire which will have made it possible all planet to adopt the electricity.

List some as of its 1093 patents and inventions

Decorations

Quotations

  • I am vegetarian and anti-alcohol: thus I can make a better use of my brain.
  • The genius represents a percent of inspiration and ninety percent of perspiration.
  • Never not to waste time to invent things which people would not be likely to buy.
  • I do not discourage myself because any unfruitful attempt that one leaves behind oneself constitutes another step ahead.
  • I will make electricity so cheap that only the rich person will be able to treat to the luxury to use candles.
  • If we did all that we are able to make, we would be deafened by it.
  • I did not fail. I just found: 10000 means which do not function.
  • The passion for radiophony will disappear with time.
  • If there is a better way of doing it… find it!
  • The gramophone does not have any commercial value.
  • The value of an idea depends on its use.
  • The artificial intelligence anything is not compared with natural stupidity.

Private life

In 1871, it marries Mary Stilwell, one of the employees of its 15 years old laboratory which will die prematurely at the 28 years age in 1884, leaving Thomas with three children. It will remariera in Mina Miller in 1886 with which it will have 3 more children.

Baited worker, Edison concentrated so much on his work which it spent only little time near his family (it was married twice). It avoided the majority of the social situations, and its determination was often lived as Tyran screws by his employees.

Catalog of films Dumb man

Catalog of films Speaking

  • 1913 : Nursery Favorite
  • 1913: has Minstrel Show
  • 1913: The Irish Police officers
  • 1913: Her Redemption
  • 1913: Julius Caesar
  • 1914 : The Patchwork Girl off OZ

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