Thomas Edison American inventor Quick Summary Ask the Chatbot Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Edison Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Library of Congress - Digital Collections - Life of Thomas Alva Edison Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation - Thomas Edison's Inventive Life National Park Service - Biography of Thomas Edison National Academy of Sciences - Biographical Memoirs - "Thomas Alva Edison" Rebus Community - History of Applied Science and Technology - Thomas Alva Edison The Franklin Institute - Case Files: Thomas A. Edison NPR - Thomas Alva Edison, Part I Official Site of Edison Innovation Foundation The National Museum of American History - Lighting A Revolution - Lamp Inventors 1880-1940: Carbon Filament Incandescent American Chemical Society - Biography of Thomas Edison Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Thomas Edison - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) Thomas Edison - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Quick Summary Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Thomas Alva Edison, Wizard of Menlo Park Written by Robert E. Conot Editor, Los Angeles Times. Senior Lecturer in Journalism, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Author of A Streak of Luck: The Life and Legend of Thomas Alva Edison and others. Robert E. Conot , Matthew Josephson Author of Edison: A Biography. Matthew Josephson •All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 15, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts In full: Thomas Alva Edison (Show more) Born: February 11, 1847, Milan, Ohio, U.S. (Show more) Died: October 18, 1931, West Orange, New Jersey (aged 84) (Show more) Awards And Honors: Hall of Fame (1960) (Show more) Inventions: carbon transmitter incandescent lamp Kinetograph Kinetoscope phonograph fluoroscope (Show more) On the Web: Rebus Community - History of Applied Science and Technology - Thomas Alva Edison (July 31, 2025) (Show more) See all related content Show More { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "When was Thomas Edison born?", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "When did Thomas Edison die?", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "How did Thomas Edison become famous?", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Thomas Edison unveiled the phonographu2014which reproduced sounds by means of the vibration of a stylus following a groove on a rotating discu2014in December 1877. The publicu2019s amazement surrounding this invention was quickly followed by universal acclaim. Edison was projected into worldwide prominence and was dubbed the Wizard of Menlo Park." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "How did Thomas Edison change the world?", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Thomas Edison played a significant part in introducing the modern age of electricity. His inventions included the phonograph, the carbon-button transmitter for the telephone speaker and microphone, the incandescent lamp, the first commercial electric light and power system, an experimental electric railroad, and key elements of motion-picture equipment." } } ] } Top Questions When was Thomas Edison born?Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847.

　　When did Thomas Edison die?Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey.

　　How did Thomas Edison become famous?Thomas Edison unveiled the phonograph—which reproduced sounds by means of the vibration of a stylus following a groove on a rotating disc—in December 1877. The public’s amazement surrounding this invention was quickly followed by universal acclaim. Edison was projected into worldwide prominence and was dubbed the Wizard of Menlo Park.

　　How did Thomas Edison change the world?Thomas Edison played a significant part in introducing the modern age of electricity. His inventions included the phonograph, the carbon-button transmitter for the telephone speaker and microphone, the incandescent lamp, the first commercial electric light and power system, an experimental electric railroad, and key elements of motion-picture equipment.

　　News • Thomas Edison and Henry Ford among the original snowbirds: The rich going to Florida for the winters • Aug. 16, 2025, 12:08 AM ET (AP) Show less Thomas Edison (born February 11, 1847, Milan, Ohio, U.S.—died October 18, 1931, West Orange, New Jersey) was an American inventor who, singly or jointly, held a world-record 1,093 patents. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial research laboratory. Edison was the quintessential American inventor in the era of Yankee ingenuity. He began his career in 1863, in the adolescence of the telegraph industry, when virtually the only source of electricity was primitive batteries putting out a low-voltage current. Before he died, in 1931, he had played a critical role in introducing the modern age of electricity. From his laboratories ...(100 of 3481 words)

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