Nikola Tesla, born on 10 July 1856 in Smiljan, Croatian Military Frontier, now part of Croatia, was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist. He is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern Alternating Current (AC) electricity system.
Tesla studied at the Austrian Polytechnic Institute in Graz (1875–1878), but he did not graduate. His early interest in electricity was influenced by his mother, who had a talent for making home craft tools and mechanical appliances. After working at the Central Telegraph Office in Budapest, he moved to the United States in 1884, where he would work for Thomas Edison.
Tesla's work on alternating current (AC) systems led to a significant rivalry with Edison, who was promoting his direct current (DC) system. Tesla developed the Tesla coil, which is still used in radio technology today. His AC system allowed the generation, transmission, and use of electricity over long distances with much less power loss than DC systems.
During his lifetime, Tesla received around 300 patents for his inventions, many of which are still in use today. He was granted patents in several countries, including the U.S., Britain, and Canada. Despite his numerous contributions, Tesla's work was often overshadowed by other inventors like Marconi and Edison, and he did not achieve the commercial success or recognition during his life that he might have deserved.
In his later years, Tesla lived in a series of hotels in New York City, often facing financial difficulties. He died alone in his room at the New Yorker Hotel on 7 January 1943. His legacy was largely forgotten until the late 20th century when his work on AC electricity, wireless communication, and his visionary ideas about energy transmission were reevaluated and celebrated. Today, Tesla is recognized as a pioneer in many fields of science and technology.