Happy Birthday!

Nikola Tesla, born on July 10, 1856, has become known as The Genius Who Lit The World! He was a true visionary far ahead of his contemporaries in the field of scientific development. His greatest achievement has been listed as his polyphase alternating current system, which is today lighting the entire globe. He died broke, alone and in relative obscurity, but his work now seems to be attracting real attention and encouraging debate, more than 70 years after his death in 1943.

The scientist and inventor. Before emigrating to the United States in 1884 to work for Thomas Edision in New York City, Tesla's experience was in telephony and electrical engineering. In the years following, he invented, predicted or contributed to the development of hundreds of technologies, including:

• alternating current (the basis of our present-day electrical system)
• remote control
• neon and fluorescent lights
• wireless transmission
• laser beams
• x-rays
• robotics
• the first hydroelectric power plant (Niagara Falls, New York)
• Tesla Patents

The man. Tesla Universe.com has a timeline of Tesla's life, with wonderful personal anectodes and factoids that paint a colorful picture of the man who earned himself the reputation as an archetypal "mad scientist". Here are just a few examples:

• 1856. Tesla was born "at the stroke of midnight" with lightning striking during a summer storm. He was born to a Serbian family in Smiljan near Gospić, Lika, (the Military Frontier of Austria-Hungary, now in Croatia). The midwife commented, "He'll be a child of the storm," to which his mother replied, "No, of light."
• 1885. Tesla Electric Light Company. Investors approached Tesla and asked him to develop an improved arc lighting system. Although this was not the opportunity he had hoped for, the group was willing to finance the Tesla Electric Light Company in Rahway, New Jersey. The proud new owner set to work and invented a unique arc lamp of beautiful design and efficiency. After completing the work, Tesla was forced out of the company and left with nothing but worthless stock certificates. Tesla later referred to this as "the hardest blow" he'd ever received.
• 1922. Tesla's favorite pidgeon dies.Tesla had many pigeons he fed and cared for, but one, he was particularly fond of. He described it as being a beautiful female bird, pure white with light gray tips on its wings. One night the bird flew into Tesla's room at Hotel St. Regis, and he perceived that she was attempting to tell him she was dying. Tesla said a light came from her eyes more intense than he had ever produced by the most powerful lamps in his laboratory. The bird then died and Tesla said that at that same moment, something went out of his life and he knew his life's work was finished.
• 1934. Tesla moves to New Yorker. A settlement was reached with the Westinghouse Corporation that provided Tesla with a consulting rate of $125.00 per month along with the agreement to pay his monthly rent expenses. Upon signing the agreement, Tesla promptly moved to the Hotel New Yorker where he'd live rent free for the rest of his days.
• 1943. Tesla dies. Tesla died quietly and alone in room #3327 on the 33rd floor of the Hotel New Yorker in New York City. He was 86 years old.Tesla had placed a "do not disturb" sign on his door on January 5th, 1943. Ignoring the sign, maid Alice Monaghan entered the room to find Tesla dead in his bed. Assistant Medical Examiner H. W. Wembly was called to the scene and after examination of the body, gave his opinion that the cause of death had been coronary thrombosis and that there had been no suspicious circumstances.
• 1944. "Prodigal Genius - The Life of Nikola Tesla" published.The first true glimpse into Tesla's life came to most of us through this book. Although there are many known errors, mistakes, etc. the book is said to portray Tesla very accurately.