Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. At the age of seven he entered school but left it very soon. His mother then became his teacher. He had wonderful memory.
Edison began to work when he was twelve. His first job was a newspaper boy on "a train. He had a small laboratory in the baggage car of this train. There he carried out experiments. Edison kept records of all his experiments. Then the next five years he worked as a telegraphist.
In 1877 Edison invented a phonograph. This talking machine both recorded and played back. 11 resembled the present day tape recorder more than a record player.
Thomas Edison invented' the first working light bulb in 1879, but no one knew how to use electricity outside of a laboratory before Edison. He and his workers had to create a safe electric system.
Edison carried out experiments from morning till night. All his inventions were the results of his endless work. He sometimes made thousands of experiments. For months he slept no more man one or two hours a day.
Edison continued to work all through his long life. He attributed his success not so much to genius as to hard work.
Edison's inventions include the phonograph, or gramophone, the megaphone, the cinematograph, the improved lamp of incandescent light, many greatly improved systems of telegraphic transmission and numerous other things.
Thomas Edison was a true genius, he became one of America's most famous and most honored man.