Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. At first, Edison was interested in history and English literature, and at the age of 12, his insatiable appetite for knowledge led him to the local library. It was there he developed a fascination for science—reading The World Dictionary of Science and numerous works on Practical Chemistry. Edison would go on to be one of the greatest inventors in history.
Among Edison's many inventions, from the first electronic stock ticker to the phonograph, his greatest contribution to society and more so to the medical profession was the creation of the light bulb. Its implementation in endoscopic instruments advanced the field of urology. After obtaining 1,093 patents on his numerous inventions, Thomas Edison died in 1931.
To reach Thomas Edison's official home page visit www.thomasedison.com
Contributors:
Rainer Engel, MD