Source for picture:www.knowledgeoftoday.org
Nikola Tesla was born in July of 1856, in what is now Croatia. He came to the
United States in 1884, and briefly worked with Thomas Edison before the two parted ways. He sold
several patent rights, including those to his alternating-current machinery, to George Westinghouse. His 1891 invention, the
"Tesla coil, is still used in radio technology today. Tesla died in
New York City on January 7, 1943.
Early Life
Famous Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in
what is now Smiljan, Croatia. Tesla's interest in electrical invention was likely spurred by his mother, Djuka Mandic, who invented small household in her spare time while her son was
growing up. Tesla's father, Milutin Tesla, was a priest. After studying in the
1870s at the Realschule, Karlstadt the Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria; and the
University of Prague, Tesla began preparing for a trip to America.
Tesla came to the United States in 1884, and soon began working with famed
inventor and business mogul Thomas Edison . The two worked together for a
brief periof before parting ways due to a conflicting business-scientific
relationship, attributed by historians to their incredibly different
personalities: While Edison was a power figure who focused on marketing and financial
success, Tesla was a commercially out-of-tune and somewhat vulnerable, yet
extremely pivotal inventor, who pioneered some of history's the most important
inventions. His inventions include the "Tesla coil," developed in 1891, and an
alternating-current electrical system of generators, motors and
transformers—both of which are still used widely today.
On the AC electrical system alone, Tesla held 40 basic U.S. patents, which he
later sold to George Westinghouse, an American engineer and
business man who was determined to supply the nation with the Tesla's AC system.
He would succeed in doing just that, not long after purchasing Tesla's patents.
Around this time, conflict arose between Tesla and Edison, as Edison was
determined to sell his direct-current system to the nation. According to the
Tesla Memorial Society of New York, Tesla-Westinghouse ultimately won out
because Tesla's system was "a superior technology," presenting greater "progress
of both America and the world" than Edison's DC system. Outside of his AC system
patents, Tesla sold several other patent rights to Westinghouse.
At the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago, Tesla conducted
demonstrations of his AC system, which soon became the standard power system of
the 20th century, and has remained the worldwide standard ever since. Two years
later, in 1895, Tesla designed the first hydroelectric powerplant at Niagara
Falls, a feat that was highly publicized throughout the world.
Around 1900 nearly a decade later after inventing the "Tesla coil" Tesla
began working on his boldest project yet: Building a global communication
system through a large, electrical tower for sharing information and providing
free electricity throughout the world.
In addition to his AC system, coil and tower project, throughout his career,
Tesla discovered, designed and developed ideas for a number of important
inventions—most of which were officially patented by other inventors—including
dynamos (electrical generators similar to batteries) and the induction
motor. He also a pioneer in the discovery of radar technology, X-ray technology
and the rotating magnetic field the basis of most AC machinery.
later in life
Nikola Tesla died on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86, in New York City where he had lived for nearly 60 years.
His legacy, however, has been thriving for more than a century, and will undoubtedly live on
for decades to come.
Several books and films have highlighted Tesla's life and famous works,
including Nikola Tesla, The Genius Who Lit the World, a film created by
the Tesla Memorial Society and the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Serbia; and
The Secret of Nikola Tesla, which stars Orson Welles as John Pierpont Morgan (J.P. Morgan).
In recent years, a street sign entitled "Nikola Tesla Corner" was installed in
honor of the famous inventor, near the 40th Street-6th Avenue intersection in
New York City.
Over the past several years, several nonprofit organizations, high-profile
individuals, municipalities and Tesla enthusiasts have been involved in a
different kind of effort to uphold Tesla's legacy: A project to preserve Tesla's
still-standing, still-abandoned New York laboratory, Wardenclyffe, and turn it
into a museum of the famous inventor's work. For more than a decade, New York's
Nikola Tesla Science Center has been working to gain momentum and,
subsequently, funding for preserving Wardenclyffe. Since then, the lab's
ownership has been passed through several hands, and public interest for the
project has slowly but steadly been growing.
Interest escalated in February 2009, when the Wardenclyffe site was posted
for sale, for nearly $1.6 million. Since then, the Tesla Science Center has
continued to diligently work to raise funds for the lab's preservation. The
state of New York recently acknowledged the center's efforts, awarding the
center with a $850,000 grant (the center can't officially receive the grant
until it raises matching funds).
United States in 1884, and briefly worked with Thomas Edison before the two parted ways. He sold
several patent rights, including those to his alternating-current machinery, to George Westinghouse. His 1891 invention, the
"Tesla coil, is still used in radio technology today. Tesla died in
New York City on January 7, 1943.
Early Life
Famous Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in
what is now Smiljan, Croatia. Tesla's interest in electrical invention was likely spurred by his mother, Djuka Mandic, who invented small household in her spare time while her son was
growing up. Tesla's father, Milutin Tesla, was a priest. After studying in the
1870s at the Realschule, Karlstadt the Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria; and the
University of Prague, Tesla began preparing for a trip to America.
Tesla came to the United States in 1884, and soon began working with famed
inventor and business mogul Thomas Edison . The two worked together for a
brief periof before parting ways due to a conflicting business-scientific
relationship, attributed by historians to their incredibly different
personalities: While Edison was a power figure who focused on marketing and financial
success, Tesla was a commercially out-of-tune and somewhat vulnerable, yet
extremely pivotal inventor, who pioneered some of history's the most important
inventions. His inventions include the "Tesla coil," developed in 1891, and an
alternating-current electrical system of generators, motors and
transformers—both of which are still used widely today.
On the AC electrical system alone, Tesla held 40 basic U.S. patents, which he
later sold to George Westinghouse, an American engineer and
business man who was determined to supply the nation with the Tesla's AC system.
He would succeed in doing just that, not long after purchasing Tesla's patents.
Around this time, conflict arose between Tesla and Edison, as Edison was
determined to sell his direct-current system to the nation. According to the
Tesla Memorial Society of New York, Tesla-Westinghouse ultimately won out
because Tesla's system was "a superior technology," presenting greater "progress
of both America and the world" than Edison's DC system. Outside of his AC system
patents, Tesla sold several other patent rights to Westinghouse.
At the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago, Tesla conducted
demonstrations of his AC system, which soon became the standard power system of
the 20th century, and has remained the worldwide standard ever since. Two years
later, in 1895, Tesla designed the first hydroelectric powerplant at Niagara
Falls, a feat that was highly publicized throughout the world.
Around 1900 nearly a decade later after inventing the "Tesla coil" Tesla
began working on his boldest project yet: Building a global communication
system through a large, electrical tower for sharing information and providing
free electricity throughout the world.
In addition to his AC system, coil and tower project, throughout his career,
Tesla discovered, designed and developed ideas for a number of important
inventions—most of which were officially patented by other inventors—including
dynamos (electrical generators similar to batteries) and the induction
motor. He also a pioneer in the discovery of radar technology, X-ray technology
and the rotating magnetic field the basis of most AC machinery.
later in life
Nikola Tesla died on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86, in New York City where he had lived for nearly 60 years.
His legacy, however, has been thriving for more than a century, and will undoubtedly live on
for decades to come.
Several books and films have highlighted Tesla's life and famous works,
including Nikola Tesla, The Genius Who Lit the World, a film created by
the Tesla Memorial Society and the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Serbia; and
The Secret of Nikola Tesla, which stars Orson Welles as John Pierpont Morgan (J.P. Morgan).
In recent years, a street sign entitled "Nikola Tesla Corner" was installed in
honor of the famous inventor, near the 40th Street-6th Avenue intersection in
New York City.
Over the past several years, several nonprofit organizations, high-profile
individuals, municipalities and Tesla enthusiasts have been involved in a
different kind of effort to uphold Tesla's legacy: A project to preserve Tesla's
still-standing, still-abandoned New York laboratory, Wardenclyffe, and turn it
into a museum of the famous inventor's work. For more than a decade, New York's
Nikola Tesla Science Center has been working to gain momentum and,
subsequently, funding for preserving Wardenclyffe. Since then, the lab's
ownership has been passed through several hands, and public interest for the
project has slowly but steadly been growing.
Interest escalated in February 2009, when the Wardenclyffe site was posted
for sale, for nearly $1.6 million. Since then, the Tesla Science Center has
continued to diligently work to raise funds for the lab's preservation. The
state of New York recently acknowledged the center's efforts, awarding the
center with a $850,000 grant (the center can't officially receive the grant
until it raises matching funds).