The Trials and Tribulations of Thomas Edison

Born on February 11, 1847, the great mind of Thomas Alva Edison began its development at an early age, despite the setback of not learning to speak until the age of four. He was born into a middle-class family in the port of Milan, Ohio as the youngest of seven children. During his adolescent years since he first learned to speak, Thomas had beleaguered every adult he met with questions of the workings of his world and the denial of any such knowledge by these adults only evoked more questions from the child. His hyperactive eagerness to learn led to his labelling as mentally unstable by his teachers though the same condition in modern day terms would be known as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). As a result of the instructors' refusal to teach young Thomas, his mother had taken him back home in order to personally home school him, despite already knowing of his peculiarity.

Growing up, Thomas's parents introduced the young adolescent to many of the fine literary artworks of their time and as such he became enraptured in classic novels and stories. It was then that his parents had finally taught the child how to utilize the library for learning purposes and it was also then that his fascination with the sciences began. Though indulging himself in everything from the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire to the Anatomy of Melancholy, Thomas developed a deep interest in physics, in particular the works of the famed Isaac Newton. Despite his repulsion from the manner in which Newton had relayed his thoughts, Edison had continued to hold his ideas true to himself and as he grew older, so did his increasing hunger for scientific knowledge.

Upon reaching his teenage years, Edison's father began teaching him of how to work a telegraph, which in those days was the equivalent of learning to use a computer. With this newly acquired skill, Edison soon began his hobby of invention that started with the "automatic repeater," which could allow people to recieve telegraph signals at a rate best suited to the receiver. All the while, as he was inventing and experimenting with different inventions-to-be, Thomas continued to work in the telegraph industry even unto the invention of his electric vote recording machine. It was not until he recieved a $40,000 offer on his stock-tider that his true career as an inventor finally began.

The three years preceeding that event would be the "golden age" of his inventive talents as it was in those years that he had established his first research and experimentation laboratory as a greater facility by which to invent. It was here where Edison then proceeded to develop the phonograph, which essentially was an undeveloped form of the voice recorder, and the incandescent lightbulb, the accomplishment by which he is most known. Thought it can be said that he did not officially invent the idea of the lightbulb, it was he who had perfected its inner workings. Among the peak of his inventive period included the creation of the dictaphone, mimeograph, and storage battery. For these and his other 1000 inventions Edison was granted the title of "The Wizard of Menlo Park."

Despite his many achievements, it could be said that this brilliant mind had very few close aquaintances as his occupation kept him away from any significant social contact. Even his own family had very little contact with the inventor as much of his time was spent inside the laboratory, thinking up new ideas or improving upon older ones. It wasn't until medical ailments came into the picture that Edison finally had time to slow down the pace of his life and enjoy his final days with his family. Until the last days of his life, Edison enjoyed several social contacts with many of the celebrities of his time and on his deathbed on October 18, 1931, he ushered the final words to his wife, "It is very beautiful over there..."

Throughout the nation, recognizing that Edison's death marked the end of civilizations golden age of development, citizens nationwide dimmed their electric lights in silent reverence for the great inventor.

Gerald Beals, Edison Biography, Thomas Alva Edison

The Thomas A. Edison Papers, Rutgers State University of New Jersey

Edison Birthplace Museum - History, Edison Birthplace Association, Inc.