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Nikola Tesla
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Nikola Tesla

Serbian-American inventor of the alternating-current induction motor

10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943 United States Verified by our editors
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Lived
86 yrs
1856 – 1943
Works listed
3
Invention, Autobiography
Honours
3
Most recent 1975
Profile views
5
0 followers

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and engineer whose alternating-current (AC) induction motor and polyphase power system, backed by George Westinghouse, became the basis of the world’s electricity grids. He also invented the Tesla coil and experimented with radio and wireless power.

Biography

Early life

Tesla was born to Serbian parents in Smiljan, then in the Austrian Empire; his father was an Orthodox priest. He studied engineering at Graz and worked for telephone and electric companies in Budapest and Paris.

Edison and Westinghouse

Tesla emigrated to New York in 1884 and worked briefly for Thomas Edison before leaving after a dispute. In 1888 he patented an AC induction motor and system; George Westinghouse licensed the patents. In the “war of the currents”, AC beat Edison’s direct current and was used at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the Niagara Falls power plant in 1895.

Inventions and experiments

Tesla invented the Tesla coil, a high-voltage transformer, and demonstrated wireless lighting and radio-controlled boats. His Colorado Springs and Wardenclyffe experiments aimed at wireless power transmission, but funding ran out.

Later life and legacy

Tesla lived his last decades in New York hotels in poverty. He died in 1943. The SI unit of magnetic flux density, the tesla, is named after him, and the electric-car company Tesla took his name.

Timeline

  1. 1856

    Born in Smiljan, Austrian Empire (now Croatia)

  2. 1884

    Arrives in New York, works for Edison

  3. 1888

    AC motor patents; Westinghouse licence

  4. 1891

    Invents the Tesla coil; US citizen

  5. 1893

    AC lights the Chicago World’s Fair

  6. 1895

    Niagara Falls power plant

  7. 1898

    Demonstrates a radio-controlled boat

  8. 1901

    Begins Wardenclyffe Tower

  9. 1943

    Dies in New York

  10. 1943

    Died, aged 86

Notable works

  • 1888

    Induction motor Invention

  • 1891

    Tesla coil Invention

  • 1919

    My Inventions Autobiography

Awards and honours

  • Elliott Cresson Medal

    1894

  • Edison Medal

    1916

  • National Inventors Hall of Fame

    1975

Did you know?

  1. 1

    In 1943 the US Supreme Court upheld a decision recognising earlier radio patents, including Tesla’s, over Marconi’s.

  2. 2

    He claimed to have a photographic memory.

  3. 3

    Belgrade’s airport and a museum are named after him.

Connections

Related people

Also born on 10 July

Frequently asked

Who is Nikola Tesla?

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and engineer whose alternating-current (AC) induction motor and polyphase power system, backed by George Westinghouse, became the basis of the world’s electricity grids. He also invented the Tesla coil and experimented with radio and wireless power.

When did Nikola Tesla die?

Nikola Tesla died on 7 January 1943 at the age of 86.

Where is Nikola Tesla from?

Nikola Tesla was born in Smiljan, Austrian Empire (now Croatia).

What is Nikola Tesla known for?

Nikola Tesla is best known for AC induction motor and polyphase power; Tesla coil; radio and wireless experiments.

What awards has Nikola Tesla received?

Notable honours include Elliott Cresson Medal (1894), Edison Medal (1916), National Inventors Hall of Fame (1975).

Who is Nikola Tesla married to?

Partner: George Westinghouse.

References

  1. Nikola Tesla — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
  2. Nikola Tesla — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
  3. Nikola Tesla — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
  4. Nikola Tesla — Goodreads author page. Goodreads. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
  5. Nikola Tesla — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 4 November 2026.
  6. Nikola Tesla (Q9036) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.

Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Nikola Tesla”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more

External links

Wikipedia
Filed under Alternating currentElectricityInventors Electrical EngineerInventor

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Cite this page

“Nikola Tesla.” TrackFame, last updated 5 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/nikola-tesla

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