Nikola Tesla, born in Croatia in 1856, displayed remarkable intelligence from an early age. He left home at 14 to study science and engineering, eventually settling in New York City in 1884. During this time, Tesla worked with Thomas Edison, but eventually pursued his own business ventures.
Despite facing challenges, Tesla's perseverance led to the invention of alternating current (AC), a groundbreaking system for safely transmitting electricity over long distances. This innovation sparked a fierce rivalry between Tesla's AC system and Edison's direct current (DC) system. With the support of George Westinghouse, AC emerged as the dominant electrical system in the USA. Tesla's contributions extended beyond electricity, as he explored wireless transmission of information and power.
Although his grand project of a global transmission tower was unsuccessful, Tesla's imaginative ideas and relentless work ethic left an indelible mark on science and engineering. Today, he is revered as the inventor whose technology shaped modern life, even receiving the honour of having an electric car company named after him in 2003.