Death of Thomas Edison (October 18), October 18, 1931. Thomas Edison, the American inventor and entrepreneur, died on this day at the age of 84 in New Jersey, United States. Edison held over 1,000 patents, including those for the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, playing a significant role in technological and industrial progress during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Throughout his career, Edison founded several companies, some of which later became major industrial enterprises. His development of electrical distribution systems and numerous inventions had a profound impact on everyday life. At the time of his death, many cities and institutions in the United States and abroad dimmed their lights for one minute as a mark of respect. The death of Edison on October 18, 1931, is recognized as the end of an era of major innovation in the history of technology. This event is noted in the Gregorian calendar as a reminder of Edison's role in shaping the modern world. The inclusion of this observance in the Gregorian calendar was made in subsequent decades by cultural and scientific institutions, due to the historical importance and widespread influence of Edison's inventions, and it was designated as a significant day.
