Tesla died in poverty after losing his battle with Wall Street bankers. He was also likely the first to discover the electron, radioactivity, cosmic rays, terrestrial resonance, stationary standing waves, and fluorescent light bulbs. His inventions included the induction motor, the first x-rays, radio-controlled vehicles, hydroelectric power turbines, wireless transmission stations, and the alternating current (AC) power standard used globally today. Tesla essentially invented the technology that underpinned many of the 20th century’s greatest advances. He was a hyper-polyglot who could speak eight languages fluently including Serbo-Croatian, English, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, and Latin. Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, theoretical and experimental physicist, mathematician, futurist and humanitarian. Here are 7 influential polymaths and how you can learn from their examples: 1. In terms of influence, I measure greatness by the impact and the influence of their ideas and inventions in the world today.Īll of the people on this list have made their mark on history with notable contributions to the advancement of literature, technology, the arts, or education.
Since mainstream academics tend to be very discipline-focused, polymaths usually learn most of what they know as highly curious and experimental autodidacts. They typically generate significant insights and breakthroughs in a variety of fields. Many of these brilliant people found throughout human history have had the characteristics of what is called a polymath.Ī polymath is typically defined as a person of wide interests and expertise in various fields of science, humanities, and the arts.
They leave a lasting legacy and become immortalized by the stories that people continue to tell about their lives. Each generation produces brilliant minds that advance humanity with their ideas and inventions.