Electrical engineering and invention · Europe and United States · 1856–1943
Nikola Tesla Life & Career Timeline
Polyphase power, resonant transformers and spectacular experiments in wireless control.
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18561869188218951908192119341943
NTNikola TeslaElectrical engineering and invention · Europe and United States
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About this timeline
About Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla developed core alternating-current machinery and pursued ambitious high-frequency and wireless systems.
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Nikola Tesla biography
Nikola Tesla timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Smiljan
Nikola Tesla was born to Serbian Orthodox parents Milutin and Georgina Tesla.
Source: tesla-museum.orgCompletes school in Karlovac
Tesla studied mathematics and physics and later recalled seeing the possibilities of alternating current.
Source: tesla-museum.orgEnters Graz Polytechnic
A scholarship supported intensive engineering study before his attendance collapsed.
Source: tesla-museum.orgWorks at Budapest Telephone Exchange
Tesla improved equipment and developed the idea of a rotating magnetic field.
Source: tesla-museum.orgJoins Continental Edison
He repaired electrical installations and gained practical experience with dynamos.
Source: tesla-museum.orgArrives in New York
Tesla emigrated with a letter of introduction and briefly worked for Edison Machine Works.
Source: tesla-museum.orgForms Tesla Electric Light
His first American company developed arc-lighting equipment but left him without control of the patents.
Source: tesla-museum.orgBuilds induction motor system
Tesla demonstrated a practical polyphase alternating-current motor and associated generators and transformers.
Source: tesla-museum.orgLectures on polyphase AC
His American Institute of Electrical Engineers lecture led George Westinghouse to license key patents.
Source: tesla-museum.orgDemonstrates the Tesla coil
High-frequency resonant transformers enabled spectacular experiments in lighting and wireless energy.
Source: tesla-museum.orgBecomes a US citizen
Tesla completed naturalisation while expanding his independent laboratory work.
Source: tesla-museum.orgAC lights the World’s Columbian Exposition
Westinghouse’s alternating-current system powered the fair and demonstrated its large-scale potential.
Source: tesla-museum.orgLaboratory destroyed by fire
The South Fifth Avenue fire consumed apparatus, notes and demonstrations accumulated over years.
Source: tesla-museum.orgNiagara power reaches Buffalo
The hydroelectric project used a polyphase system based substantially on Tesla-Westinghouse technology.
Source: tesla-museum.orgRadio-controlled boat demonstrated
Tesla publicly controlled a small vessel by radio, anticipating remote-control systems.
Source: tesla-museum.orgColorado Springs experiments
A large experimental station investigated high voltage, resonance, lightning and wireless transmission.
Source: tesla-museum.orgWardenclyffe project
Tesla attempted a powerful wireless communications and energy station but lost financial backing.
Source: tesla-museum.orgDies in New York
Tesla died alone aged eighty-six; his patents and public demonstrations left a complex technical legacy.
Source: tesla-museum.orgThis educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Nikola Tesla or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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About the Nikola Tesla timeline
Who is Nikola Tesla?
Nikola Tesla developed core alternating-current machinery and pursued ambitious high-frequency and wireless systems.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1856–1943.
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This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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