Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman renowned for his prolific contributions to technology and industry. He developed many devices that had a profound impact on modern life, including the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and early motion picture cameras
. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, and largely educated by his mother, with only brief formal schooling. He began his career as a telegraph operator, which inspired some of his earliest inventions related to telegraphy and electrical communication
. Over his lifetime, Edison earned 1,093 U.S. patents, making him one of the most prolific inventors in American history
. He was a pioneer in applying organized science and teamwork to invention, establishing the first industrial research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his key inventions were developed
. His inventions and innovations extended beyond individual devices to systems of electric power generation and distribution, which helped electrify cities like New York and ushered in the modern electrical age
. Edison was also a successful entrepreneur who marketed his inventions widely, influencing industries such as sound recording, electric lighting, and motion pictures. Despite being almost completely deaf, he was known for his tireless work ethic, often working 18-hour days and sleeping very little
. He died in 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey, leaving a legacy as a transformative figure in technology and industry whose inventions have shaped the modern industrialized world
