Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • History & Society
  • Science & Tech
  • Biographies
  • Animals & Nature
  • Geography & Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • ProCon
  • Money
  • Games & Quizzes
  • Videos
  • On This Day
  • One Good Fact
  • Dictionary
  • New Articles
History & Society
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • World History
Science & Tech
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science
  • Technology
Biographies
  • Browse Biographies
Animals & Nature
  • Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
  • Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
  • Environment
  • Fossils & Geologic Time
  • Mammals
  • Plants
Geography & Travel
  • Geography & Travel
Arts & Culture
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Literature
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Visual Arts
  • Companions
  • Demystified
  • Image Galleries
  • Lists
  • Podcasts
  • Spotlight
  • Summaries
  • Top Questions
  • #WTFact
  • Britannica Kids
Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Thomas Edison
Table of Contents
  • Introduction & Top Questions
  • Early years
  • Menlo Park
    • The phonograph
    • The electric light
  • The Edison laboratory
  • Legacy
Quotes References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Watch a silent short of Thomas Edison, who invented the phonograph and incandescent electric light
Thomas Edison
The role of chemistry in Thomas Edison's inventions
Thomas Edison Thomas Edison Thomas Edison Thomas Edison and phonograph Thomas Edison model of Thomas Edison's phonograph Thomas Edison
For Students
Vintage engraving from 1878 of the spinning room in Shadwell Rope Works. View of the factory floor. Industrial revolution
Pop Quiz: 15 Things to Know About the Industrial Revolution
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison summary
Quizzes
ball bearing. Disassembled ball bearing. rotational friction Automobile Industry, Engineering, Industry, Machine Part, Metal Industry, Sphere, Steel, Wheel
Inventors and Inventions
Alberto Santos-Dumont. Postcard of Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont's (1873-1932) airship or dirigible and Eiffel Tower. The Santos Dumont Air-Ship rounding the Eiffel Tower; on Octoboer 19th 1901. airplane
A History of Everyday Technology in 68 Quiz Questions
Related Questions
  • How did Thomas Edison become famous?
  • When was the telephone patented?
Read Next
Abstract vector hi speed internet technology background
History of Technology Timeline
The Apple II
10 Inventions That Changed Your World
A Factory Interior, watercolor, pen and gray ink, graphite, and white goache on wove paper by unknown artist, c. 1871-91; in the Yale Center for British Art. Industrial Revolution England
Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
Prince. musician Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson). rince performs during the "Pepsi Halftime Show" at Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
7 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Inventors
Discover
Aspirin pills.
7 Drugs that Changed the World
Drinking water is poured into a glass.
Water Fluoridation: Just the Facts
Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"
How Deadly Is Quicksand?
Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere
Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?
Portrait of a mountain gorilla at a short distance. gorilla close up portrait.The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
Falling Stars: 10 of the Most Famous Endangered Species
Aurochs. Bos primigenius. Skeleton. Extinct animal. Skeleton of an Aurochs, an extinct wild ox.
6 Animals We Ate Into Extinction
Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news
Who Invented the Internet?
Home Technology The Web & Communication

Thomas Edison: Quotes

  • Genius and Talent
    Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.Thomas Edison
History at your fingertips – Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox!
By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Click here to view our Privacy Notice. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email.
Thank you for subscribing!
Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.
Stay Connected
Facebook X YouTube Instagram

  • About Us & Legal Info
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Equal Opportunity
©2025 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.