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
1884: Arrives in New York
1888: Patents the induction motor
1893: His AC system lights the Chicago World's Fair
1895: Helps power Niagara Falls hydroelectricity
1899: Experiments in Colorado Springs
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.