Tesla, Nicola

Nicola (1857-), a noted electrical engineer. Tesla was born in Austrian Croatia. He was educated at Gratz. Prague, and Budapest. He was employed for some time by his native government in the department of telegraphy. He went to Paris as electrical engineer for a lighting company, then crossed the Atlantic to the United States, believing this to be a promising field for electrical expansion. For a time Tesla was engaged by the Edison Company. Later he set up a laboratory for himself in New York City. Tesla is noted as an original investigator in electrical fields. He has contributed a number of able articles to the scientific periodicals, and has invented numerous improvements in dynamos, induction coils, arc lamps, incandescent lamps, steam engines, etc. He had a hand in the installation of the machinery used to transmit power from Niagara Falls. Among American electrical engineers Tesla ranks second only to Thomas Edison.