Edison, Thomas Alva. Electrician. Was born at Milan, Ohio, February 11, 1847. Edison received some instruction from his mother. At 12 years of age, became newsboy on Grand Trunk Railway. Later Edison learned telegraphy; worked as operator at various places in United States and Canada. He invented many telegraphic appliances, including automatic repeater, quadruplex telegraph, printing telegraph, etc. Edison established a workshop at Newark, New Jersey, moving to Menlo Park, New Jersey in 1876, and later to West Orange. Edison invented machines for quadruplex and sextuplex telegraphic transmission, the carbon telegraph transmitter, the microtasimeter for detection of small changes in temperature, the megaphone, the phonograph, the aerophone, the incandescent lamp and light system, the kinetoscope, and scores of others. Made chevalier officer, and afterward commander, of Legion of Honor by French government. Edison was appointed honorary chief consulting engineer, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, in 1903. Invented the kinetophone in 1912, the telescribe in 1915. Made chairman naval advisory board in 1915.

---