| 1847: |
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Born, 11 February, Milan, Ohio |
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| 1859-63: |
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Sells newspapers and sundries on train between Port Huron, Michigan, and Detroit |
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| 1864-67: |
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Years as a traveling telegrapher |
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| 1868: |
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Patents first invention, Boston |
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| 1869: |
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Works on stock ticker and printing telegraph, New York |
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| 1870: |
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First substantial income from an invention (stock ticker) |
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| 1871: |
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Marries Mary Stilwell |
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| 1874: |
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Quadruplex telegraph (sending four messages over a wire at the same time) |
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| 1876: |
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Carbon-resistance telephone transmitter |
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| 1877: |
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Phonograph |
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| 1879: |
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Incandescent lamp |
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| 1882: |
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Pearl Street Station, New York |
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| 1883: |
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Discovers and experiments with electrical discharge inside lamp (called "Edison Effect;" basis of
the vacuum tube) |
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| 1884: |
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Wife Mary dies |
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| 1886: |
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Marries Mina Miller |
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| 1887: |
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Newer, larger laboratory, West Orange, New Jersey |
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| 1888- : |
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Motion pictures |
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| 1889-95: |
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Concentrated activity on electromagnetic ore-separation work, Ogdensburg, New Jersey
More work on phonograph
Development of storage battery |
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| 1923- : |
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Attempts to find alternative sources of rubber |
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| 1929: |
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Inauguration of Menlo Park laboratory as a museum, Dearborn, Michigan |
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| 1931: |
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Dies October 18, West Orange, New Jersey |
