Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor, was born in 1856 and died in 1943. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work in electrical engineering, developing alternating current (AC) systems. Tesla's vision for wireless energy transmission and his experiments with X-ray technology and electromagnetic fields were ahead of his time. His "War of Currents" with Thomas Edison led to AC's widespread adoption. Tesla's personal life was marked by eccentricity, loneliness, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He held over 300 patents and predicted technologies like radio communication, radar, and neon lights. Despite his contributions, Tesla died in poverty and obscurity.
Key points:
- Born: 1856, Smiljan, Croatia
- Died: 1943, New York City
- Notable contributions: Alternating current (AC) systems, wireless energy transmission
- Famous rivalry: "War of Currents" with Thomas Edison
- Held over 300 patents
- Predicted technologies: Radio communication, radar, neon lights
- Personal struggles: Eccentricity, loneliness, obsessive-compulsive disorder
