Thomas Alva Edison and His Contribution to the World

During the 19th century the inventions of useable electricity, steel, and natural gas products led to a second industrial revolution (1865–1900), which featured the growth of transportation as well as faster and wider means of communication. The 19th century was the age of developing machine tools along with interchangeable parts. The assembly line was also invented during the 19th century, speeding up the manufacturing of products in factories. Inventors began to design practical internal combustion engines; the light bulb, telephone, typewriter, and sewing machine, all of which came of age during the 19th century. Long before all of these great inventions were successful a very important man came into play; Thomas Edison, one of the world’s more respected scientists, was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847 and died on October 18, 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of production (Morkyr). In Tim Rutten’s review of The Wizard of Menlo Park, he depicts Randall Stross’s novel as Thomas Edison progresses through his career. Rutten states, ‘"The Wizard of Menlo Park" does a meticulous job of charting [Thomas Edison]'s well-documented journey from penniless young telegrapher to international technical celebrity and, as a journalist himself’ (Rutten). Thomas Edison has greatly influenced the technological world by creating many life altering inventions that inspired many products we rely on to this day.

Even as a child, Thomas Edison was always fascinated by electricity and loved experimenting. When Edison was seven he and his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. After only three week of formal education, Edison’s te...

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...ison’s company with Thomson-Houston Electric Company, another major electrical manufacturer, forming General Electric Company. Right away the company took off as electric light was becoming a necessity (Parachin).

Edison became very wealthy from all of his brilliant inventions and all of these which have impacted the world in a positive way. Robert Conot a biographer once stated: "No other man has ever been responsible for striking the spring of so much wealth, nor had such influence on the lives of so many people"(Kaplan). Thomas Alva Edison died on October 18, 1931 of complications from his diabetes. Three days later President Herbert Hoover announced nationwide that everybody is to dim their lights for one minute in honor of Edison as the clock strikes 10 o'clock PM (Special). Edison’s inventions improved the quality of life and changed the way our world worked.