19th Century Technology

THOMAS EDISON“Genius is one percent

inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Had only three months of formal schooling. At 14 went deaf in his left ear. At 15, served in the army during the Civil War as a telegrapher.

Wanted to be an actor, nearly penniless in New York, he fixed a machine for a business and began making his fortune.

THOMAS EDISON1874 First laboratory – moved to Menlo Park , NJ in 1876

1877 Phonograph

1879Light bulb

1887 Had largest scientific lab in the world

THOMAS EDISON1888 – 1903 Vitascope and kinetoscope led to first attempt at blending motion pictures with sound.

The Great Train Robbery was produced in 1903 by Edison.

Received his last U.S. patent (1,093) at the age of83. Died at 84.

Alexander Graham BellTeacher of the deaf,

invented the electronic speech machine (telephone) in 1876.

Worked with Edison to perfect it.

Guglielmo Marconi

Italian, used knowledge of sound waves to create first radio in 1895.

Also allowed wireless telegraph (used in war)

The Automobile

Karl Benz Henry Ford

Initially developed by Daimler, Benz and others, Henry Ford perfected the assembly line and the production of automobiles that made them available to the masses. His first car was the Model T.

Orville and Wilbur WrightBicycle mechanics, tinkerers, built and tested numerous possibilities. First successful flight of an airplane in 1903 (Kitty Hawk, NC)

Louis PasteurFrench chemist – discovered heat killed bacteria. Developed a process later called Pasteurization, which made milk much safer to drink.Also invented a

vaccine for anthrax and rabies.

Joseph ListerRealized the meaning of

Pasteur’s work and made his surgical wards use germ-killing liquids. More patients survived – other hospitals followed his ideas.

Charles DarwinEnglish Naturalist and Biologist

Developed ideas that all living species evolve over time.

Very controversial, called Theory of Evolution, includes other ideas such as

natural selection.

Edward Jenner inoculates a boy with cowpox. After he recovers from the infection, Jenner inoculates him with smallpox, but the boy remains healthy. Vaccination is born – 1796.

Edward Jenner