Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison is a hero because he demonstrated many of the attributes a hero would throughout his life. Tom was brave, intelligent, and of course dedicated.

When Edison was just 12 he convinced his parents to let him sell newspapers on the Grand Trunk Railroad Line and during his time on the railroad he saved a young child from getting run over by a train thereby demonstrating bravery. And as a thank you the child's father taught him how to use a telegraph thus landing Edison at the age of 15 with his first job as a traveling telegrapher.

For five years Thomas worked as a substitute telegrapher around the country subbing for those who had gone to fight in the Civil War. As time went on, Edison began to familiarize himself with electrical science and in his spare time he read and experimented with telegraph technology. In 1869 Edison was living in New York City and had just made his first invention, an improved stock ticker. The Gold and Stock Telegraph Company liked it so much they paid him 40, 000 dollars for the machine and rights. And Edison with his success decided to become a full time inventor.

By the 1870s Thomas had a reputation as an inventor. Thomas had many failures as far as inventions go and if he gave up he never would have given us the phonograph, the transmitter for the telephone speaker, an improved light bulb, and key elements of motion-picture device, as well as other developments. And showing us how dedicated and intelligent he truly was.