THOMAS EDISON
1847–1931
A prolific American inventor, Thomas Edison held a record number of patents and understood that having an idea was not enough—it had to be commercially viable. He set up the world’s first research facility to develop and manufacture groundbreaking inventions and initiated the birth of the electricity industry, changing society forever.
Born in Ohio, Thomas Alva Edison was the youngest of seven children. Finding it difficult to concentrate at school because of hearing difficulties, he was educated at home by his mother, a former teacher. With her encouragement, Edison developed into an ...
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