Happy Birthday Nikola Tesla!

Happy Birthday Mr. Tesla! (July 10, 1856) Nikola Tesla is regarded as one of the world's most renowned thinkers and inventors when it comes to electricity. Many of his inventions are still used today, and many of us never think about where it comes from. "The Tesla coil, which he invented in 1891, is widely used today in radio and television sets and other electronic equipment. His alternating current induction motor is considered one of the ten greatest discoveries of all time. Among his discoveries are the fluorescent light , laser beam, wireless communications, wireless transmission of electrical energy, remote control, robotics, Tesla’s turbines and vertical take off aircraft. Tesla is the father of the radio and the modern electrical transmissions systems. He registered over 700 patents worldwide." (from the Tesla Memorial Society of NY website)

Nikola Tesla and Sam Clemens were good friends beginning in the 1880's. Sam was always fascinated by new inventions and was constantly on the lookout for new investments. An invention of Tesla's came Sam's way and impressed him greatly. Tesla lived in New York City when he moved to the United States, and some of his friends happened to be friends with Clemens as well. As their social circles started to mingle, Clemens and Tesla eventually ended up meeting at a popular gentleman's club in the city. In 1894 Tesla invited Clemens to his lab, along with a few other friends, which is where the famous picture of Sam in Tesla's lab comes from.

Tesla and Clemens remained good friends until Sam's death in 1910; writing correspondence whenever they could about the latest inventions and patents. Tesla greatly admired Clemens' writing and work, and Clemens was highly fascinated by the work that Tesla did with electricity. It seems as though they were a match made in heaven.

*Caitlin

"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work." -Mark Twain