Homework Help: Social Studies: People: Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors in American history. He was born in the village of Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847. His family later moved to Port Huron, Michigan. He asked many questions as soon as he learned to talk.

He got his first job at the age of twelve, being a train boy, selling magazines and candy on the Grand Trunk Railroad. Thomas got his education from his own mother. He also loved to read and do chemistry. Unfortunately, an accident with his chemistry led to a loss of hearing.

When he was fifteen, Thomas became manager of a telegraph office. His first inventions here were the transmitter and receiver for the automatic telegraph.

At the age of twenty-one, he produced his first major invention. He invented a stock ticker for printing stock-exchange quotations in broker's offices. With this invention, he made $40,000. But he still kept inventing things, object after object!

In 1877, he invented the phonograph. Thomas was most pleased with this invention than any other, because it required the most work and activity.

In 1878, he started to work on the electric lamp. He always ran into many problems with this one, but he finally got it. On October 21, 1879, the beginning of electric light was born. The lamp he had just made, could glow up to 40 hours.

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