* Born in Smiljan, Austrian Empire (present-day Croatia), on July 10, 1856.

* Grew up in a Serbian Orthodox family.

* Displayed an early aptitude for mathematics and physics.

* Attended the Royal Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria, but did not complete his degree.

Tesla's Early Career

* Worked as an engineer for various companies in Europe.

* Moved to the United States in 1884 and worked for Thomas Edison's Edison Machine Works.

* After a falling out with Edison, Tesla left the company and started his own business, the Tesla Electric Company.

Tesla's Major Contributions

* Developed the modern alternating current (AC) electrical system.

* Invented the Tesla coil, a high-voltage transformer.

* Designed and built the world's first wireless communication system.

* Developed the induction motor, which is used in most modern electrical appliances.

* Proposed the idea of wireless power transmission.

Tesla's Later Years

* Tesla's later years were marked by financial difficulties and personal eccentricities.

* He continued to work on various projects, but none were as successful as his earlier work.

* Tesla died on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86.

Tesla's Legacy

* Tesla is considered one of the greatest inventors of all time.

* His work laid the foundation for the modern electrical industry.

* He is also credited with inspiring many other inventors, including Thomas Edison and Guglielmo Marconi.

Some Interesting Facts About Tesla

* Tesla was a lifelong vegetarian.

* He was also a polyglot, speaking eight languages fluently.

* Tesla was a very eccentric person and was known for his unusual behavior.

* He was also a prolific inventor, holding over 300 patents.

* Tesla died penniless and alone.