THE LIFE AND WORK OF NIKOLA TESLA

Abstract

The article briefly describes the life of Nikola Tesla, from the village of Smiljan to New York, from a resourceful boy and animal lover to a world famous scientist. The ancestry of the Tesla family is discussed, starting with a description of the ethnic background of the inhabitants of Lika. Tesla’s education in Croatia consisted of elementary school in Smiljan and Gospić, and secondary school in Gospić and Rakovac. This was followed by the polytechnic school in Graz and further education in Prague. Tesla’s work in Budapest and France, his departure from Europe and the continuation of his work in the USA are discussed, as well as the establishment of his own laboratory. Tesla’s patents in the fi eld of electrical machinery and equipment that he patented at the United States Patent Office are briefly presented. There are also comments by distinguished figures about Nikola Tesla and the recognition he merited.