Thomas Edison was a prominent American inventor in the late 19th century. The document discusses Edison's early life and career, including his work establishing Menlo Park laboratories, where he invented the phonograph and worked to develop electric power distribution through his development of the light bulb and direct current (DC) power. It also notes his rivalry with inventor Nikola Tesla in the "current wars" over DC and alternating current (AC) technologies, and provides links to learn more about Edison's inventions and their impacts.