Thomas Edison was perhaps one of the most diverse, yet influential men of his time for his accomplishments have influenced the world in such a substantial way. He was nicknamed "The Wizard of Menlo Park," for his various intriguing inventions, as well as his expertise in the field of science. Throughout his life time, Edison successfully passed over 1,000 patents, scanning a wide variety of topics. From his knowledge of the motion picture industry, to his successful creation of the phonograph; Edison's inventions were life changing at the time of their creation. Above all other accomplishments, Edison's finest and most notable findings dealt with the field of electricity. His findings were revolutionary, and "by the time he died, entire cities were lit by electricity"(Thomas Alva 1). However, these worldly accomplishments did not come easy for Edison, for he was forced to overcome many obstacles in order to prosper in such a substantial manner. While disappointments frequently stared Edison in the face, he was able to look past them, in order to achieve great success. Despite his lack of education, financial hardships and frequent disappointments, Thomas Edison was undoubtedly able to overcome adversity, in order to become one of America's most influential men.
             Thomas Edison was born in the small town of Milan, Ohio, in early 1947 and became the seventh child of Samuel and Nancy Edison. During the early years of Edison's life, his family moved him to Port Huron, Michigan; a town which would prove to be essential to the formation of genius. When Edison was a mere 12 years old, he was forced to begin working in order to help support himself in a family of nine. His first job entailed selling newspapers on the trains of the Grand Trunk Railroad. This job proved very helpful to Edison, for in his spare time, he often read scientific works of literature; perhaps the driving factor in his thirst for knowledge. Several years after his wor...