Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman, who has been described as America's greatest inventor. [1] [2] [3] He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph , the motion picture camera , and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb . Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park", [4] he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory . [5] Edison was a prolific inventor , holding 1,093 US patents in his name , as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. More significant than the number of Edison's patents was the widespread impact of his inventions: electric light and power ut...