TimeLine
1847Thomas Edison is born
Thomas Edison was born in Ohio on February 11. His family later moved to Michigan.
1859Thomas sets up one of his first chemistry labs
As a boy, Thomas Edison worked with the Grand Trunk Railroad. He set up his very own chemistry lab on board the train.
1867Thomas Edison begins his first of many experiments
Throughout the Civil War Thomas worked as a wire operator. He became familiar with the telegraph instruments and started experimenting with them.
1868Thomas Edison files his first patent
After beginning work with Western Union, Thomas invented an automatic vote recorder. He filed his very first patent for this machine.
1870Edison becomes a full time inventor
He moved to New Jersey and used all of his money and time to work on new inventions. He invented several stock market machines during this time.
1871Thomas Edison gets married to Mary Stillwell
Mary was one of Thomas's employees in New Jersey. They were married on Christmas Day.
1874A new invention for Western Union
Thomas invented a new telegraph system for Western Union that could send four telegraphs at once.
1875Edison invents the first version of a copy machine
Thomas called his invention the electric pen. It was an early form of a copy machine.
1877Thomas invents the phonograph
Thomas invented the phonograph, which played music. He later improved the phonograph, and made it cheap enough for the general public to afford.
1877The carbon transmitter is invented
Quotes
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
There is no substitute for hard work.
I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
There is no substitute for hard work.
I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.