Thomas Edison

            Thomas Edison the Quintessential American Inventor.
             Thomas Edison was the quintessential American inventor. Born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio into a modest family, Edison grew up amidst three large-scale transformations that shaped his life. The first was rapid growth of the transportation and information networks, second was the managerial revolution that saw large corporations dominate the economy, and lastly he saw the development of a rural to urban move that brought about a change in the way Americans consumed goods. Growing up in a fast changing society made Edison industrious, develop ingenuity; intuition, and determination, characteristics that made him the quintessential American inventor. .
             At a young Edison was destined for success. It started with his determination at helping the family by working the family farm bringing in $600 one year. Next, young Edison started with what would become his career and that was working in the communication field delivering newspapers. It is amazing that Edison as a paperboy would catch a train at 7 a.m. in the morning and would return with his papers back home as late as 9 p.m., many hours for a young child. Edison showed a knack for business at this early stage. At the outbreak of the Civil War Edison bought additional papers of this exceptional event, he decided that he could sell 1000 papers to his usual 100. In addition, Edison had to arrange for credit to buy the papers and then displayed a instinctive sense of supply and demand as he "raised the price; at the various towns to corresponding crowds." .
             As an adult, Edison continued his hardworking ways. In a Success Magazine interview Edison stated that for "fourteen years I have worked on average of twenty hours a day." When asked why he works, Edison replied because "I like it" and on he issue of retirement Edison said, "I hope I will be able to work right to the close. I shouldn't care to loaf.