Nikola Tesla Facts for Kids

A Picture of Nikola Tesla
  • Name: Nikola Tesla
  • Profession: Inventor and Engineer
  • Born: July 10th, 1856 in Smiljan, Austrian Empire
  • Died: January 7th, 1943 in New York City, NY, United States
  • Resting Place: Nikola Tesla Museum in
  • Legacy: Famous for his contributions to the AC electricity supply system

24 Nikola Tesla Facts for Kids

  1. Nikola Tesla was a native born Serbian inventor, engineer and futurist.
  2. Nikola Tesla is most famous for his work on the AC (alternating current) electric power supply system.
  3. Nikola Tesla was born on Tesla July 10th, 1856 in Smiljan, Austrian Empire, Europe.
  4. Nikola Tesla was the son of Milutin Tesla and Đuka Mandić.
  5. Nikola Tesla was one of the five children by Milutin Tesla and Đuka Mandić.
  6. Nikola Tesla was the 2nd youngest of his four siblings. He had three sisters and one brother.
  7. Nikola Tesla never married or had any children; he believed his chastity helped him achieve his scientific abilities.
  8. Nikola Tesla died from coronary thrombosis at the age of 86 on January 7th, 1943 in New York City, United States.
  9. Nikola Tesla’s ashes are laid to rest at the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Serbia, Europe.
  10. In 1873, Tesla contracts cholera and spends nine months recovering with multiple near death instances.
  11. In 1882, Tesla starts working for the Continental Edison Company in Paris, France. This is where Tesla was first introduced to electricity and gained a lot of experience with electrical engineering.
  12. In 1884, Tesla emigrates to the United States and works at the Edison Machine Works in New York City. He only works there for about six months and quits over a dispute related to a bonus.
  13. In 1886, Tesla meets with Charles F. Peck and Alfred S. Brown. He explains to them his ideas for electrical equipment, both men agree to financially back Tesla.
  14. In 1887, Tesla and his two new partners form the Tesla Electric Company.
  15. In 1888, Tesla is granted a patent for his induction motor that ran on alternating current (AC). He would license this patent to Westinghouse and work with them as a consultant for one year.
  16. In 1889, Tesla uses funds generated from licensing his patents to open several laboratories in New York City.
  17. In 1891, Tesla invests the Tesla coil, an electrical resonant transformer circuit.
  18. In 1891, Tesla became a naturalized United States citizen at the age of 35 on July 30th.
  19. Between 1892 and 1894, Tesla served at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers as the vice president.
  20. In 1893, Tesla was granted a patent his Tesla’s oscillator. This was a steam-powered electric generator.
  21. In 1893, Tesla consults with Edward Dean Adams on the best system to use to transmit hydroelectric power generated at Niagara Falls. Adams ultimately agrees with Tesla and builds an AC distribution system.
  22. In 1894, Tesla may have taken the first X-ray image in history, predating the first X-ray image taken by Wilhelm Röntgen by a few weeks.
  23. Between 1901 and 1917, Tesla experiments with wireless electricity transmission at the Tesla Tower (Wardenclyffe Tower) in Shoreham, New York, United States.
  24. During the life of Nikola Tesla, he received more than 275 patents worldwide for his inventions. The majority of his patents were issued in the United States of America.

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