Thomas Edison lived from 1847 to 1931. For many he is the most popular inventor of American history. Thomas Edison was both inventor and businessman. He worked to create the phonograph, motion picture camera, and of course the light bulb. Thomas Edison was also one of the first to employ mass production.
In his life Thomas Edison held 1093 patents for various projects in the US, UK, and France. He also had the first industrial research laboratory. Thomas Edison is credited with inventions for mass communications and had an early career as a telegraph operator. The modern industrialized world is credited to much of Thomas Edison and his work on developing new products. Another invention of Edison’s was the carbon telephone transmitter which was used in telephones for many years.