Thomas Alva Edison
Inventor and businessman who has been described as America's greatest inventor
Real World Example
Thomas Alva Edison was a famous American inventor and businessman who played a key role in the Industrial Revolution. He is best known for inventing the practical electric light bulb, which allowed factories and homes to be lit after dark, greatly extending working hours and boosting productivity. Edison's work helped transition the United States into an industrial powerhouse by making electricity widely accessible. Today, his legacy lives on as we continue to use electric lighting in our daily lives, from classrooms to streetlights. For example, when you turn on a lamp to read at night, you're benefiting from Edison's groundbreaking work on electric illumination.