Technology · Science · 1856–1943

Nikola Tesla — Age, Birthday & Biography

Born: 10 July 1856 · Died: 7 January 1943 · Age at death: 86

How old was Nikola Tesla when he died?

Nikola Tesla died aged 86. He was born on 10 July 1856 and died on 7 January 1943.

Serbian-American inventor who developed the alternating-current electrical system and the induction motor that power the modern world

Did you know?He had an extreme obsession with the number three and would only stay in hotel rooms with numbers divisible by it.

Quick facts

  • Date of birth10 July 1856
  • Date of death7 January 1943
  • Age at death86
  • Cause of deathMyocardial infarction
  • NationalitySerbian-American
  • BirthplaceSmiljan, Croatia
  • Occupationinventor, electrical engineer, physicist

Editor's Take:

Tesla's ideas power much of the modern world, even though he died nearly penniless in a New York hotel room. His work on alternating current made it possible to send electricity efficiently over long distances, forming the basis of today's power grids. He also experimented with radio, wireless energy and remote control, often far ahead of what was practical at the time. Brilliant but eccentric, he made bold claims that sometimes outran his results, which partly explains why he faded from public memory. His reputation has soared again in recent decades, helped by the electric car company that bears his name.

Key Milestones

  1. 1884: Arrives in New York
  2. 1888: Patents the induction motor
  3. 1893: His AC system lights the Chicago World's Fair
  4. 1895: Helps power Niagara Falls hydroelectricity
  5. 1899: Experiments in Colorado Springs
  6. 1901: Begins building Wardenclyffe Tower

Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was a Serbian-American engineer, futurist, and inventor. He is known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Profile

Nikola Tesla: Pioneer of Electricity

Serbian-American inventor, born 1856

Nikola Tesla was born in Smiljan on 10 July 1856.

He developed alternating current motors.

He worked briefly for Thomas Edison.

The SI unit of magnetic flux density, the tesla, is named after him.

Career highlights

  1. 1884New York: arrives
  2. 1888AC motor: patents licensed
  3. 1891Tesla coil: invented
  4. 1893Chicago World's Fair: AC lighting
  5. 1901Wardenclyffe: wireless tower

Did you know?He claimed to have photographic memory.

Age at death
86
Years since death
83

Explore Nikola Tesla's birthday

Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

When is Nikola Tesla's birthday?
Nikola Tesla's birthday is July 10. He was born on July 10, 1856 in Smiljan, Croatia.
How old was Nikola Tesla when he died?
Nikola Tesla died on January 7, 1943, aged 86.
Who shares a birthday with Nikola Tesla?
Famous people who share Nikola Tesla's July 10 birthday include Marcel Proust, Mahathir Mohamad, John Calvin, Alice Munro and Camille Pissarro.

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Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026