Thomas Edison, one of the most prolific inventors in history, led a life marked by curiosity, perseverance, and innovation. Here's a concise overview of his life, focusing on key events every three years: - **Age 0-3 (1847-1850)**: Born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. Early years were spent in a family that encouraged curiosity. - **Age 3-6 (1850-1853)**: Edison's family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. He started to display an insatiable curiosity and a keen interest in mechanical things. - **Age 6-9 (1853-1856)**: Began his education but was deemed difficult by his teachers. His mother, a former schoolteacher, decided to homeschool him. - **Age 9-12 (1856-1859)**: Developed a voracious appetite for reading. He read books on a wide range of subjects, including science and philosophy. - **Age 12-15 (1859-1862)**: Started working as a train boy on the Grand Trunk Railroad, selling newspapers and candy. Set up a small laboratory and a printing press in a train baggage car. - **Age 15-18 (1862-1865)**: After saving a three-year-old from being struck by a runaway train, Edison was taught telegraphy as a reward. He began working as a telegraph operator. - **Age 18-21 (1865-1868)**: Worked as an itinerant telegrapher in various cities. Began to invent and improve telegraphic systems. - **Age 21-24 (1868-1871)**: Moved to Boston, where he worked for Western Union and focused on his inventions. Invented an electric vote recorder. - **Age 24-27 (1871-1874)**: Married Mary Stilwell in 1871. Invented the quadruplex telegraph, which could send four messages simultaneously. - **Age 27-30 (1874-1877)**: Invented the phonograph in 1877, which brought him worldwide fame as the "Wizard of Menlo Park." - **Age 30-33 (1877-1880)**: Focused on electric light and power distribution. Invented the carbon filament light bulb in 1879. - **Age 33-36 (1880-1883)**: Established the Edison Illuminating Company in 1880, laying the groundwork for the electric power industry. - **Age 36-39 (1883-1886)**: Continued to improve his electric light system and began working on ore milling and cement technology. - **Age 39-42 (1886-1889)**: Married Mina Miller in 1886. Focused on the development of a magnetic ore-separator. - **Age 42-45 (1889-1892)**: Worked on developing motion pictures. Invented the Kinetoscope, a device for viewing moving pictures. - **Age 45-48 (1892-1895)**: Focused on the development of the nickel-iron battery. - **Age 48-51 (1895-1898)**: Worked on various projects, including the development of x-ray technology and improvements in phonograph design. - **Age 51-54 (1898-1901)**: Involved in the development of the electric train. - **Age 54-57 (1901-1904)**: Continued to innovate in the fields of storage batteries and cement production. - **Age 57-60 (1904-1907)**: Focused on iron ore milling techniques and improving his storage battery. - **Age 60-63 (1907-1910)**: Worked on the perfection of the phonograph and motion picture technology. - **Age 63-66 (1910-1913)**: Developed the kinetophone, which combined the phonograph with the motion picture. - **Age 66-69 (1913-1916)**: Focused on military technologies during World War I, including submarine detectors and chemical weapons. - **Age 69-72 (1916-1919)**: Continued to work on projects for the U.S. Navy during World War I. - **Age 72-75 (1919-1922)**: Returned to work on his phonograph and motion picture projects. - **Age 75-78 (1922-1925)**: Worked on improving the alkaline storage battery. - **Age 78-81 (1925-1928)**: Continued his work on storage batteries and other inventions. - **Age 81-84 (1928-1931)**: Received numerous awards and honors in his final years, including the Congressional Gold Medal. Edison continued to work on various projects, albeit at a slower pace due to declining health. - **Age 84 (1931)**: Thomas Edison passed away on October 18, 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey. His life's work had a profound impact on the modern world, with over 1,000 patents to his name. Edison's legacy is not just in his inventions but in his approach to innovation and problem-solving, which continues to inspire entrepreneurs and inventors around the globe. [[041124 121517 think and grow rich]] #personal-growth #entrepreneur #tech