Have you ever wondered who truly lit the world with electricity? The name you learned in school might not be the whole story. The modern world wouldn't exist without Nikola Tesla. Yet, his name remains a whisper compared to other inventors. Why?
Even the well-known invention of Thomas Edison would be of no better use without the invention of Nikola Tesla. The man who truly shocked the world with his genius and futuristic thinking, the one whose inventions power your every device, remains largely unknown.
Step into the electrifying tale of Nikola Tesla, the visionary inventor whose brilliance illuminates the story of our modern world, even if his name has been dimmed by history.
Even this article you read now would not be possible if Nikola Tesla had not invented the Alternating Current (AC). When you switch on any lights or enjoy the luxuries in your home using electricity you have to thank Nikola Tesla.
Tragically, one of the greatest inventors in history vanished into oblivion. From personal setbacks and financial difficulties to the decline in his mental state, Nikola Tesla's tale is one of both greatness and adversity.
Nikola's Childhood
Nikola Tesla was born in the town of Smiljan in present-day Croatia on July 10, 1856.
According to family lore, when Tesla was born in the wee hours there was a fierce lightning storm. A midwife even saw the lightning as a bad omen, fearing Tesla would be a "child of darkness." However, Tesla's mother countered with the belief he would be a "child of light."
Nikola's father was a priest in the church and his mother Duka, served as an inspiration to little Nikola by creating little home tools like egg whisks to make house tasks easier.
Young Nikola displayed a remarkable mind from a young age. He possessed a near-photographic memory and could perform complex mathematical calculations in his head, baffling his teachers who thought he was cheating!
Nikola Tesla relocated to Karlovac in 1870, away from the family, so that he could attend the Higher Real Gymnasium for high school.
Although Karlovac had its share of challenges, it also appears to have fostered Tesla's scientific curiosity and intellectual curiosity. Even though it wasn't the best period of his life, it probably had an impact on how he would go in the future.
Tesla's enthusiasm for electricity flourished during his stay at Karlovac, presumably sparked by physics teacher Martin Sekulić.
Nikola Tesla then moved to Imperial-Royal Technical College in Graz (now Graz University of Technology) in 1875. His days were marked by both academic excellence and a touch of eccentricity.
Initially, he attended every lecture during his first year, aced nine tests, and earned the highest grades in most subjects. His professors recognized his exceptional talent, especially in Professor Jakob Pöschl's electricity lectures.
Despite his initial success, Tesla's time at Graz wasn't entirely smooth sailing. He reportedly clashed with Professor Pöschl over the operation of a new dynamo about the nature of electricity which led to Tesla abruptly leaving the college in 1878 without completing his degree.
The stint with the Thomas Edison Company
In 1884, Tesla immigrated to the United States with a letter of recommendation for Edison. He was hired at Edison Machine Works in New York City.
Edison recognized Tesla's talent and assigned him various electrical engineering tasks. There were even reports of Tesla impressing Edison with his innovative ideas.
However, their visions for electricity clashed. Edison held patents for direct current (DC), while Tesla believed in the future of alternating current (AC).
According to Tesla, the Edison Machine Works boss offered a $50,000 bonus for designing twenty-four different kinds of standard machines, but it was just a practical joke and he did not receive the money.
This fundamental difference and a possible misunderstanding about compensation led to Tesla leaving Edison's company and eventually forming his own to pursue his AC vision.
Edison championed direct current (DC), a reliable but inefficient system for transmitting electricity over long distances. Tesla, on the other hand, saw the potential of alternating current (AC), which offered greater efficiency for long-distance transmission.
Think of Edison as a highly skilled inventor, crafting innovative tools like the light bulb or the phonograph. These inventions were revolutionary for their time and greatly improved daily life.
However, Tesla functioned more like a futurist. He wasn't just focused on building a better light bulb; he envisioned a world where electricity was wirelessly transmitted to power entire cities.
His ideas for robotics and remote control technology laid the groundwork for inventions that wouldn't be realized until decades later.
Time of the greatest invention
In 1887, Tesla invented an induction motor that could run on an alternative current, which was the most efficient method of converting electricity to mechanical power.
After obtaining a patent for the motor, Tesla showcased it at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, which drew the attention of George Westinghouse, a significant player in the electric industry. Westinghouse saw that Tesla's AC motor could complete his alternating current system and rival Edison's DC system.
Thus, Tesla received equity and royalties in addition to a $60k license to Westinghouse to use the AC motor patents. Westinghouse employed Nikola as a consultant for a monthly salary of $2,000, which is more than $50,000 in today's currency.
Tesla became independently rich and had the time and resources to follow his own interests thanks to the money he generated from AC patents.
Tesla operated out of many workshops and laboratory facilities in Manhattan around 1889. These workshops were where Tesla and his hired personnel worked on some of his most important projects.
It was during this period that Nikola Tesla rose to prominence as an inventor.
The War of Currents
But soon the fundamental difference he had with Edison sparked the infamous "War of Currents," a battle that ultimately led to the widespread adoption of AC, the system we use today.
Edison made a concerted effort to undermine Tesla and Westinghouse. He adopted propaganda against Tesla. And, to demonstrate the dangers of alternating electricity, he also covertly funded the electric chair.
Westinghouse and Tesla were doing well despite Edison's propaganda to undermine the importance of Nikola's invention.
They made a lower offer than Edison and his recently established business, General Electric, to light the World's Columbian Exposition 1893 in Chicago. The 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America was commemorated with the first-ever all-electric fair.
For the 27 million in attendance, it was obvious that AC would drive the future. When they defeated Edison's General Electric once more to construct the first alternating current power plant in history in Niagara Falls, their victory was cemented.
The hydroelectric power plant was a huge success and contributed to Buffalo, New York's illumination. Additionally, the construction of the facility made Tesla a leader in the field of renewable energy.
During the same period, Westinghouse Electric faced difficulties with its investors. The company's debts were increasing and its investors had called in their loans as a result of the financial panic that had arisen due to the near failure of Barings Bank in London.
The business was compelled to refinance its obligations due to an unexpected cash shortage. The new financiers put pressure on Westinghouse to reduce what appeared to be exorbitant expenditures on research, patents, and acquisitions of other businesses, including the per-motor royalty to Tesla as per the contract.
To salvage the business, George requested Tesla to reduce his royalties in 1897. Tesla tore up his contract because he was so driven by sympathy for his friend. He was appreciative of Westinghouse for having faith in him while others had given up on him.
Tesla voluntarily turned down royalties totaling $12 million, or more than $300 million in today's currency.
He would have become the first person to have a billion-dollar net worth and the richest person on the earth if he had held onto those revenues over time.
Westinghouse was saved by his act of kindness, which involved tearing up his contract for his friend. Westinghouse gave Tesla $216,000 in exchange for a lifetime license to use the patents.
With that money, Tesla set up labs and went ahead to make several inventions. He held several patents in his lifetime.
He suffered a slight setback when he lost his research notes due to the fire that broke out in his lab. But this did not deter him and he continued with his work on various inventions.
He created neon lights, the Tesla bladeless turbine, and the X-Ray with which he took the first X-Ray of his own hand followed by the invention of remote control in 1898 in which he demonstrated a small remote-controlled boat at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Tesla was then working on Tesla Coils aimed at developing wireless electrical power transmission from the year 1890s through 1906. It was an extension of his concept of power transmission through coils, which he had been showcasing in wireless lights.
As his mother had said he would be the child of lights, like how lightning strikes, Tesla worked on the highly futuristic concept of wirelessly transmitting enormous power globally. He also envisioned this as a means of transmitting global communications.
Nikola Tesla's Downfall
With the invention of radio signals, he was working on building a Wireless Transmission facility known as Wardenclyffe Tower.
Tesla began his research with whatever funding he got from investors like J.P. Morgan and secured some initial patents.
At the same time, Guglielmo Marconi was also working on the radio in England. Marconi was successful in sending the first message using Tesla's initial research.
With this success, Marconi was able to get funding from the investors while Tesla was struggling to find more funding for his project and started to get bad press.
Marconi attempted to secure patent rights in the United States for his radio invention, but his request was turned down due to its close resemblance to Tesla's invention.
Marconi surprisingly obtained a patent for the invention of the radio from the US Patent Office in 1904, as he was receiving significant financial backing to support his case.
Tesla made an effort to sue Marconi and after years of litigation, the case was finally resolved in Tesla's favor following his passing.
With the lack of funding, Tesla was left with no choice but to close the Wardenclyffe Tower which bought him in negative spotlight.
Tesla never entirely recovered from the financial and personal failures he had suffered, despite his unwavering efforts and accomplishments.
In his final years, he battled mental illness and poverty, and at the age of 86, he passed away in 1943.
Tesla never got married, but he did acknowledge that he had a beloved white pigeon that came to visit him regularly. "I loved that pigeon the way a man loves a woman, and she loved me," he declared.
He was without a doubt one of the most intelligent people in history and a very unique human being. He was destined to be among the wealthiest individuals of the era, but regrettably, he just faded off.
Despite a period of obscurity after his death, Tesla's brilliance ultimately shone through, securing his place as one of history's most important inventors.
Conclusion
Nikola Tesla's story is a testament to the power of human creativity and the unwavering pursuit of a vision. Though his name may not have been on every lightbulb, the brilliance of his ideas illuminates the modern world.
Nikola Tesla's story is a reminder that true genius often walks an unconventional path. While some may be forgotten, their contributions can have a lasting impact.
Let Tesla's story ignite a curiosity about the hidden figures who shape our world. Explore the vast landscape of invention, and remember, that the most groundbreaking ideas often start as whispers in the dark, waiting to be heard...
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