Inventor · 1847 – 1931
Thomas Edison
Held over 1,000 US patents, developed the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb and electric power systems, invented the phonograph and motion-picture technology, and founded the first industrial research laboratory.
Greatest Achievements
- Built the first central electric power station, lighting part of New York City.
- Founded the research laboratory model later adopted by modern industry.
Major Accomplishments
- Built the first central electric power station, lighting part of New York City.
- Founded the research laboratory model later adopted by modern industry.
Discoveries
- A long-lasting, commercially viable incandescent light bulb.
- The phonograph, the first practical sound-recording device.
- Early motion-picture camera and viewer technology.
Impact Analysis
Edison turned invention into an organized industrial process and put electric light, recorded sound and motion pictures into everyday life, shaping the modern technological age.
Historical influence score: 88/100