Thomas Edison: Inventor and Founder of Edison General Electric

About Thomas Edison: Inventor and Founder of Edison General Electric

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 to October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman known for his work on the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, electric power distribution and early motion pictures. The merger of the Edison General Electric Company and its competitor Thomson-Houston Electric Company formed General Electric. Edison registered 1,093 patents in the United States. He was born in Milan, Ohio, and grew up in Michigan with little formal schooling. He became deaf as a child and learned through books and tinkering. Working from a young age as a railroad telegrapher, he spent much of his time inventing improvements to telegraph systems, and by 22 he had sold a few early inventions and moved to New York City to focus on engineering. With the help of friends he attracted investment and grew his company; by 29 he owned a telegraph recorder factory in Newark with over one hundred employees. Edison then developed Menlo Park, now considered the first industrial research laboratory. Known as "The Wizard of Menlo Park", he drove his staff extremely hard and constantly worked himself and his associates to exhaustion, while also drawing investment and publicity. His personal life was troubled: he had three children with his first wife, Mary, but was neglectful, she died at 29, and his relationships with his children remained troubled for the rest of his life. Sources: English Wikipedia (Thomas Edison, accessed September 2026).

Basic Information

Founder, Edison General Electric Company; inventor (1847-1931)

Company Details

Edison General Electric / General Electric

Electric Power, Inventions, Industrial Research

Related Business Owner

Jerry Reinsdorf: Owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox

Sports & Entertainment

Woody Johnson: Owner of the New York Jets

Sports & Entertainment

Jeffrey Lurie: Owner of the Philadelphia Eagles

Sports & Entertainment

Joe Lacob: Principal Owner of the Golden State Warriors

Sports & Entertainment