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Birth
Thomas Alva Edison was born on Feburary 11, 1847. He was born in Milan, Ohio , son of Canadian-born shingle-mill owner Samuel Edison, and former schoolteacher Nancy Edison. He was the 7th and last child born within the family. This event is significant because Thomas Edison will become one of the world's most important scientific inventors ever. Source: (Heyn 110) -
Anglo-Persian War Ends
On April 4, 1857, the Peace of Paris ended the Anglo-Persian War. In the Treaty, the Persians agreed to withdraw from Herat, to apologise to the British ambassador on his return, and to sign a commercial treaty; the British agreed not to shelter opponents of the Shah in the embassy. This is significant becasue the war was one of the many causes of the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858. Also Iran ceased to be a regional power for the first time in 2500 years. Source: (Grun 420) -
American Civil War Begins
On April 12, 1861 the American Civil War began. This war was caused mainly by the major division of slavery between north and south U.S. Northern U.S did not want slavery to be allowed when the southern U.S. prospered because of it. This is significant because it eradicated slavery from the country. It paved the way for Civil Rights legislation. It established Abraham Lincoln as one of the important figures in United States and world history. Source: (Grun 424) -
Football Association Founded
The Football Association, also known simply as The FA, founded on October 26, 1863 in London, is the governing body of football in England. It is the oldest football association in the world and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its of football (soccer).
This event is significant because the FA allows all national football matches to be played. It is also responsible for appointing the management of the all the national teams Source: (Grun 427) -
13th Ammendment Ratified
On December 6, 1865, the 13th ammendment was passed after the American Civil war officially abolishing slavery in the U.S. It was passed to truely declare that all men are created equal This is important because with the adoption of the 13th amendment, the United States found a final constitutional solution to the issue of slavery. The 13th amendment, along with the 14th and 15th, is one of the trio of Civil War amendments that greatly expanded the civil rights of Americans. Source: (Grun 426) -
Electronic Vote Recorder
On October 13, 1868, Edison issued his first patent application for his electronic vote recorder. No one wanted to buy it though. Edison told himself that from now on would only invent things people want to buy. This is important because this failure led Edison to explore possibilities in the field of the telegraph. It did not stop him from inventing but only encouraged him to keep going. Source: ("Life of Thomas Alva Edison") -
Marriage
On Christmas Day Edison married Mary Stilwell, who worked in his Newark shop. They had three children: daughter Marion and sons Thomas Alva, Jr., and William. This is important because it showed their relationship was fraught with difficulties, primarily his preoccupation with work and her constant illnesses. It porved that his science was more important to him at this point in time. Source: ("Life of Thomas Alva Edison") -
Menlo Park Labratory Established
Edison opened a new laboratory in Menlo Park, NJ, in 1876. This site later became known as an "invention factory," since they worked on several different inventions at a time. He said, "I never quit until I get what I'm after. Negative results are just what I'm after. They are just as valuable to me as positive results." This is significant because most of Edison's most important and influential inventions were developed and worked on in the lab. Source: ("Life of Thomas Alva Edison") -
Phonograph Developed
The phonograph, specifically the tin foil phonograph, is a device Thomas Edison created on July 18, 1877 used to record and replay sound. This invention came from him while he was working to improve the efficiency of a telegraph transmitter. This is important because it was one of the building blocks to the modern day music recorder. The ones we have would not be the same without Edison's work. Source: (Bellis) -
Edison Electric Light Company Established
The Edison Electric Light Company was formed on November 15, 1878 to carry out experiments with electric lights and to control any patents resulting from them. The lab attempted not only to devise an incandescent bulb, but an entire electrical lighting system that could support a city. This is important because this company devoted most of their time to developing the electric light bulb that would turn out to be one of Edison's most important inventions. Source: ("Life of Thomas Alba Edison") -
Delevopment of Electric Lightbulb
Thomas Edison developed one of the world’s most used items, the practical electric light bulb on November 4, 1879. Contrary to popular belief, he did not actually "invent" the lightbulb, he actually improved upon a 50-year-old idea, but his improvements were dramatic and game him publicity on the idea. This is important because he recreated the lightbulb into a safe, practical, and economical lighting source that changed the world to make it what it is today. Source: (Bellis) -
General Electric Company Developed
Edison's competitors has different methods for making electric light. To avoid legal issues, The Edison General Electric Company merged with Thomson-Houston in 1892 to become General Electric Company, effectively removing Edison further from the electrical field of business. This is important because Edison gave up his work on electric lighting to work more on his other inventions. This allowed him to create even more amazing things within his life. Source: ("Life of Thomas Alba Edison") -
Kinetoscope Developed
Edison patented this invention on August 31, 1897. He was unable to match sound from his phonograph with pictures. Therefore, he directed the creation of the kinetoscope, a device for viewing moving pictures without sound. This is significant because it was the building block for modern day movie theaters. This introduced to the world how video could be projected onto a large surface, and later sound was developed to become a success. -
U.S. Gains Control of Panama Canal
The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. On May 4, 1904, The United States formally took control of the French property relating to the Panama Canal. The newly created Panama Canal Zone Control came under the control of the Isthmian Canal Commission during canal construction. This is significant because they would control the oceans, therefore having power. The Canal was a geopolitical strategy to make the United States the most powerful nation on earth. Source: (Grun 456) -
S.S. Titanic Sinks
On April 15, 1912, the British ocean liner Titanic sinks into the North Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. The massive ship, which carried 2,200 passengers and crew, had struck an iceberg two and half hours before. This event is significant because it was greeted with worldwide shock and outrage at the huge loss of life and the regulatory and operational failures that had led to it. It led to major improvements in marine public safety. Source: (Grun 460) -
Death
For his last two years, a series of ailments caused his health to decline even more until he lapsed into a coma on October 14, 1931. He died on October 18, 1931, at his estate, Glenmont, in West Orange, New Jersey. This is important because Edison's inventions gave scientists inspirtaion even after Edison's death. People built upon what he had done in his ilfetime and made it even better. Source: ("Life of Thomas Alba Edison")
