Thomas Edison Essay (for Kids)

Thomas Edison Imagine a world without light being produced by light bulbs. This would be the world we would be living in, had it not been for one scientist who made all the difference: Thomas Edison. Great inventor and scientist, Edison shed light on the world. Thomas Edison was born February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. He was one of seven children, him being the seventh and last. During his school days, his mind wandered. This was probably one reason why his teachers called him “addled”. Another reason may be that he asked too many questions in class, proof of his brilliance. As soon as his mother heard of this, she took him out of school, and taught him herself. In fact, later on in his life, he thought back and said, “My mom was the making of me.” Edison’s mother bought him several science and chemistry sets, all of which he finished in a week. They had known, of course, that Thomas was different, but now they knew he was way more than that. One factor that had both a positive and negative effect was his poor hearing. Somehow, he learned better without the ability to hear properly. By age 12, he was already starting “business”. His main thing was selling newspapers for the local railroad, but there were other “jobs,” like selling snacks, candy, fruits, and vegetables. Thomas’ childhood was as special and significant as the rest of his life. “Genius is one percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration.” This is the famous speech of Thomas Edison in his early adulthood. By age 20, he received his first patent for a phonograph. When trying to improve the efficiency of a telegraph, Thomas could hear words when played fast. Then, he played around with a telephone to get words out clearer. This in turn brought the world the phonograph. The creation of the light bulb was the greatest challenge in Thomas’ life. Edison didn’t really invent it as much as he improved a 50-year old idea that never worked. Finally, after 1.5 years of hard work, he succeeded in designing the incandescent light bulb. Now, his hearing was completely lost in his left ear, and 85% gone in his right. His success, though, had brought fame and fortune. In 1879, the Menlo Park laboratory complex was finished. He then spent the next few years creating the electric industry. Working with the telephone, he got a patent for it in1886. All of his work started in Newark, New Jersey. All through his adulthood, Edison worked very hard to make a living by inventing and experimenting. We have digital cameras, which most of us are really fond of. You should be thanking Thomas Edison for it. He made the first motion camera in 1896. Without him, we couldn’t watch movies, or take photographs. Eve though he was older at this time, he was still in business for inventing. Ever since the incandescent light bulb, he thought everyone would have them as lighting. When he visited the Milan house, he was shocked to see it was still lit by candles and lamps. Just months before he died, he drove a railroad run on electricity. Thomas Edison died October 18, 1931. He such a respected man, that when he was buried, everyone dimmed their lights in respect. Thomas Edison proved his speech. He was a very hardworking man, right to the end. Without him, we would be living in a world of darkness. He made electricity possible.