360Thomas Edison
In 60 words
Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who held more than 1,000 patents. He invented the phonograph, the first machine to record and play back sound, developed a practical electric light bulb and built early power stations. His laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey, was one of the first research labs devoted to invention.
Edison had little formal schooling and worked as a telegraph operator as a young man. His early inventions improved the telegraph and stock tickers.
At Menlo Park he led a team of engineers. Besides the phonograph and light bulb, his companies developed motion-picture cameras and batteries. He famously said that genius is 'one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration'.