Thomas Alva Edison was the stereotypical all-American hero of the industrial system, a rags-to-riches entrepreneur and holder of over 1,000 patents who brought enormous improvements to the lives of millions of people. He was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847.
At an early age, Edison became interested in telegraphy and worked as a freelance traveling telegraphist. By the time he was 22, he had made improvements to telegraphs for Western Union and to the stock ticker and stock printer for the New York Stock Exchange. From that point on, Edison had a very active career spanning more than 60 years. The invention that first gained him notice was the phonograph in 1877. This accomplishment was so unexpected by the public at large as to appear almost magical. Edison became known as "The Wizard of Menlo Park," New Jersey. Additional highlights of his career were the invention of the incandescent electric light bulb, which led to widespread domestic lighting, improvements to motion picture equipment and the telephone, and the discovery of the Edison effect, thermionic emission, the foundation of the electronics industry. To exploit his many inventions, Edison founded several companies, including the Edison Telephone Company and the Edison General Electric Company (which later merged to form General Electric). Edison also contributed both directly and indirectly to the growth of many other companies.
While he was perhaps best known for his inventions, Edison's most significant innovation was the industrial science laboratory, the forerunner of today's science parks. His first small laboratory was set up in Newark, New Jersey, to develop his improvements in telegraphy and stock tickers and printers. In 1876 he moved to a new site at Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he established a much larger laboratory. From his Menlo Park laboratory came a stream of inventions, developments, and patents. Eventually, Edison moved to