Nikola Tesla

The time line of Nikola Tesla's life:

1856 - Nikola Tesla was born in Smiljan, in what is now Croatia. From an early age, he showed an extraordinary curiosity for science, often experimenting with electricity and mechanical devices as a child.

1875 - Tesla enrolled at the Austrian Polytechnic in Graz, Austria. There, he studied electrical engineering and began developing ideas that would later lead to his groundbreaking work on alternating current.

1881 - While in Budapest, Tesla conceived the rotating magnetic field, the core principle that would make AC motors possible. This insight would shape his future career and redefine electrical engineering.

1884 - Tesla moved to the United States and started working for Thomas Edison. He gained valuable practical experience and began to lay the foundations for his revolutionary inventions.

1887 & 1888 - He built the first practical induction motor and patented the alternating current polyphase system. These inventions allowed electricity to be transmitted efficiently over long distances and became the backbone of modern electrical grids.

1891 - Tesla invented the Tesla coil, a device that produced high-voltage, low-current electricity. He also became a naturalized American citizen this year, officially beginning his lifelong contributions to science in the U.S.

1893 - At the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Tesla demonstrated his AC system by lighting up the fair. This public showcase convinced the world of AC's superiority over direct current and cemented his reputation as a leading inventor.

1898 - Tesla developed a radio-controlled boat, showing that machines could be operated wirelessly. This early experiment hinted at the possibilities of robotics and remote-controlled devices decades before they became common.

1900 & 1917 - Tesla worked on ambitious projects like the Wardenclyffe Tower and explored wireless power transmission, neon lighting, and other innovations. Though some projects were never completed, they reflected his vision of a future powered by electricity and technology.

1943 - Nikola Tesla passed away in New York City at the age of 86. Though he died alone and with little money, his contributions had already transformed the world, leaving a legacy that continues to influence modern science and technology.