None of Edison's remarkable achievements would have been possible without the support and influence of his mother on his life.
As the age-old saying goes, "Behind every successful man, there is a woman". Well, the idea is having someone by your side, who loves you, sees your potential (even when others don't), and pushes you forward. Now, we all know Thomas Alva Edison was a great inventor and businessman who had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world. However, none of his remarkable achievements would have been possible had it not been for his mother, whom he called a "Hero Mother". It was Nancy Matthews Elliott, who, according to Edison, was the making of him.
Today is the birthday of Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) who was an American inventor and businessman who has been described as America's greatest inventor. pic.twitter.com/FCWCh6yub3
— World of Engineering (@engineers_feed) February 11, 2024
(Credit: World of Engineering)
Born on February 11, 1847, Thomas Alva Edison is widely regarded as the most prolific inventor in American history. Today, on his 178th birth anniversary, let's learn about his mother who had been 'behind' his remarkable success.
Nancy Matthews Elliott was born on January 4, 1808, in Chenango County, New York, USA. Later, she moved with her family to Vienna, Ontario, where she taught at a school for quite some time. She married Samuel Ogden Edison Jr. on September 12, 1828.
While growing up, Thomas Edison wasn't a very good student and struggled in the traditional school system. In fact, he was labeled as an "addled child" in school as he always seemed confused.
In his interview published in a newspaper called T.P's Weekly in 1907, Edison shared, "One day I overheard the teacher tell the inspector that I was 'addled' and it would not be worthwhile keeping me in school any longer. I was so hurt by this last straw that I burst out crying and went home and told my mother about it. Then I found out what a good thing a good mother is. She came out as my strong defender. Mother love was aroused, mother pride wounded to the quick. She brought me back to the school and angrily told the teacher that he didn’t know what he was talking about, that I had more brains than he himself, and a lot more talk like that. In fact, she was the most enthusiastic champion a boy ever had, and I determined right then that I would be worthy of her and show her that her confidence was not misplaced."
(Credit: jawaharsurisetty)
Eventually, Nancy withdrew him from school and provided education at home. As the great inventor admitted several times throughout his life, this homeschooling allowed him to understand the world better.
There's a popular story that recounts that Edison - as a kid - once brought home a sealed letter from his teacher and told his mother, "My teacher gave this paper to me and told me to only give it to my mother.”
Nancy's eyes were full of tears as she read the letter out loud to her son, "Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have enough good teachers for training him. Please teach him yourself."
Years after her mother's passing and having become a legendary inventor, Edison found the letter in the corner of a drawer in a desk. The message written here was, "Your son is addled. We won’t let him come to school anymore."
Edison cried incessantly and wrote in his diary: “Thomas Alva Edison was an addled child that, by a hero mother, became the genius of the century.”
It's not confirmed whether this is real or just a story. Whatever, it goes without saying that every time Edison is celebrated, his mother deserves some credit as well.
