Beatrice Lang
Thomas Edison is known for his prolific inventions, including the lightbulb, and his business acumen. In 1889, Edison founded a company that joined with two others to form Edison General Electric, which later became General Electric (GE). GE is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892 and incorporated in New York, with its headquarters in Boston. Edison's association with GE is evident through his role as a founder and his contributions to the company's growth, particularly in the realm of electricity. The inventor's legacy is also reflected in GE's commitment to research and innovation, which began with the establishment of the General Electric Research Laboratory in 1900.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Thomas Edison founded his company | 1889 |
| Name of Edison's company | Edison General Electric Company |
| Year Edison General Electric Company merged with Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric | 1892 |
| Location of General Electric's incorporation | New York |
| Location of General Electric's headquarters | Boston |
| Year Thomas Edison sold his stake in General Electric | 1893 |
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What You'll Learn
- Thomas Edison founded General Electric (GE) in 1892
- GE was formed through the merger of Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company
- JP Morgan, an investor, played a key role in GE's formation
- GE's logo, known as the meatball, has changed little since its inception
- Thomas Edison lost the war of currents to George Westinghouse
Thomas Edison founded General Electric (GE) in 1892
Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who developed devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. In 1876, he established his first laboratory facility in Menlo Park, New Jersey, which is considered the first R&D facility in the world.
In 1889, Edison's various electricity-related companies were merged under one corporation, forming the Edison General Electric Company, which was incorporated in New York on April 24, 1889. The merger was financed by Drexel, Morgan & Co., a company founded by J.P. Morgan and Anthony J. Drexel. The new company acquired Sprague Electric Railway & Motor Company in the same year. However, not all of Edison's companies were part of this merger, notably the Edison Illuminating Company.
On April 15, 1892, Edison General Electric Company merged with Thomson-Houston Electric Company, another electrical manufacturer, to form General Electric Company (GE). This merger was also supported by Drexel, Morgan & Co. GE was incorporated in the state of New York and headquartered in Boston. The original plants of both companies continue to operate under the GE banner to this day.
Thomas Edison is recognized as the founder of GE, and he continued to be involved with the company after its formation. In 1900, he established the General Electric Research Laboratory, devoted to original research to maintain the company's competitive edge. However, in 1893, Edison sold his stake in GE and invested the money in an iron ore enterprise.
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GE was formed through the merger of Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company
Thomas Edison was an inventor and businessman with interests in many electricity-related companies, including the Edison Lamp Company, a lamp manufacturer; Edison Machine Works, a manufacturer of dynamos and large electric motors; Bergmann & Company, a manufacturer of electric lighting fixtures; and Edison Electric Light Company, the patent-holding company and financial arm for Edison's lighting experiments.
In 1889, Drexel, Morgan & Co.—a company founded by J. P. Morgan and Anthony J. Drexel—financed Edison's research and helped merge several of his separate companies under one corporation, forming Edison General Electric Company, which was incorporated in New York on April 24, 1889.
In 1892, Edison General Electric Company merged with Thomson-Houston Electric Company, forming General Electric (GE). The merger was organised by New York financier J.P. Morgan. Thomson-Houston's top executive, Charles A. Coffin, became GE's first president. D.O. Mills, T.J. Coolidge, Hamilton M. Twombly and Frederick L. Ames also qualify as founders given that they all belonged to a committee responsible for overseeing the merger. The original plants of both companies continue to operate under the GE banner to this day.
GE was incorporated in the state of New York and headquartered in Boston. Over the years, the company has had multiple divisions, including aerospace, energy, healthcare, lighting, locomotives, appliances, and finance. GE has pioneered technologies that have improved the lives of billions, from Thomas Edison’s first incandescent light bulb to jet engines with internet-connected sensors and 3D-printed parts.
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JP Morgan, an investor, played a key role in GE's formation
Thomas Edison's company, Edison General Electric Company, was formed in 1889 through the merger of three of his electric light manufacturing companies (Edison Lamp Company, Edison Machine Works, and Bergmann & Company) with the patent-holding company, Edison Electric Light Company. In the same year, Edison General Electric Company acquired the Sprague Electric Railway and Motor Company.
Three years later, in 1892, Edison General Electric Company merged with Thomson-Houston Electric Company, forming General Electric (GE). This merger was supported by Drexel, Morgan & Co., a company founded by J.P. Morgan and Anthony J. Drexel. J.P. Morgan, an American financier and investment banker, was a driving force behind the wave of industrial consolidations in the United States during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. He was responsible for the formation of several prominent multinational corporations, including U.S. Steel, International Harvester, and General Electric.
As an investor and head of the banking firm that became JPMorgan Chase & Co., J.P. Morgan played a crucial role in the creation of GE. Through his financial influence and support for the merger, Morgan helped consolidate Edison's separate companies into a single corporation, Edison General Electric Company, which later became part of GE.
The formation of GE was a significant milestone, and the company has since become a leading global conglomerate with multiple divisions, including aerospace, energy, healthcare, lighting, and finance. GE has a strong focus on research and innovation, with the establishment of the General Electric Research Laboratory in 1900, demonstrating its commitment to staying at the forefront of its industry.
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GE's logo, known as the meatball, has changed little since its inception
Thomas Edison founded the Edison General Electric Company in 1889 through the merger of his three electric light manufacturing companies (Edison Lamp Company, Edison Machine Works, and Bergmann & Company) with the patent-holding company Edison Electric Light Company. Drexel, Morgan & Co. financed this merger. In 1892, Edison General Electric Company merged with Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric (GE), which was incorporated in New York and headquartered in Boston.
GE's logo, known as the "meatball", has changed little since its inception. It features a blue circle with a white outline and four white lines that "suggest the blades of a mid-century tabletop fan". The letters "GE" are placed in the centre of the circle. The logo is officially known as the Monogram, but some employees refer to it as "the meatball". In 2004, GE transitioned from hundreds of divisions to just 14, and some employees were grateful that the Monogram was spared during this time of re-branding. The logo was redrawn in 1986 by Landor, and Wolff Olins made slight adjustments to the drawing.
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Thomas Edison lost the war of currents to George Westinghouse
Thomas Edison and General Electric GE are connected through the company's history. GE was formed through the 1892 merger of Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company. Edison General Electric Company was itself formed in 1889 when several of Edison's companies were merged.
Edison and Westinghouse knew that there could only be one standard for the American electricity system, and Edison set out to ruin Westinghouse. Edison tried to brand Westinghouse's AC system as dangerous and more damaging to living cells than his own DC system. He also tried to play on the public's fear by referring to the Westinghouse AC system as the “executioner’s current".
Despite Edison's attempts to discredit Westinghouse, the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago ultimately decided the winner of the war of currents. Westinghouse's AC system was chosen to power the fair, and the success of the lighting display solidified the victory. The fair boasted the first Ferris wheel, the first moving walkways, and the introduction of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. However, the highlight for many visitors was the dazzling lights. The fair was lit by hundreds of thousands of incandescent bulbs, powered by Westinghouse's AC system.
After the war of currents, Edison sold his stake in GE in 1893 and invested the money in an enterprise designed to supply iron ore to U.S. steelmakers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Thomas Edison founded the company that became General Electric (GE).
In 1889, Thomas Edison's company, Edison Electric Illuminating Company, joined with two other companies, Edison Lamp Company and Edison Machine Works, to form Edison General Electric. In 1892, Edison General Electric merged with Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric.
Thomas Edison sold his stake in General Electric in 1893 and invested the money in an enterprise designed to supply iron ore to U.S. steelmakers.
General Electric was formed in 1892 and incorporated in the state of New York. Over the years, the company has operated in multiple industries, including aerospace, energy, healthcare, and lighting. In 2020, GE ranked 33rd among the largest firms in the United States by gross revenue.
Thomas Edison is known for his contributions to the electric light bulb and the electric grid. He also founded the General Electric Research Laboratory, which was devoted to original research and innovation.
