Thomas Alva Edison's insatiable curiosity and practical expertise led to scores of brilliant inventions, many of which profoundly affected the 21st century. From the phonograph to the motion-picture camera to the light bulb, Edison represents true innovation. 

An entrepreneur and visionary at heart, Edison worked tirelessly and collaborated with many other famous inventors of his time. Because of his friendship with Guglielmo Marconi, Edison made several patents available to him, which helped Marconi being recognized as the inventor of the wireless telegraph.

In 1877, Edison invented both the phonograph (a device that could record and reproduce sound) and the carbon button transmitter. The rights to his latter invention were sold and used in telephones worldwide for 100 years.

Although he didn’t invent the concept of the light bulb, Edison was the first to make the light bulb commercially practical for which he was granted a patent in 1880.

Edison was at the forefront of modern entertainment industries. He applied for a patent on the motion picture camera on July 31, 1891.

A symbol of determination, he held no less than 1,093 patents during his lifetime and was famous for quotes such as "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” or “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”