Edward H. JohnsonBorn 4 Jan 1846; died 9 Sep 1917 at age 71.Edward Hibberd Johnson was an American electrical engineer and inventor who spent many years in various business projects with Thomas Edison, including as vice-president of the Edison Electric Light Company. They met when Johnson, as manager of the Automatic Telegraph Company, hired the 24-year-old Thomas Edison. As Edison's talent as an inventor propelled him into developing his invention laboratory and commercial enterprises, Johnson became his business executive and eventually president of Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of New York (organized 17 Dec 1880) which later became today's Con Edison. Johnson created the first electric lights on a Christmas tree on 22 Dec 1882, which he displayed in the window of his New York home. The hand-wired string of bulbs had been made for him, with 80 walnut-sized lamps glowing in equal numbers of red, white and blue light.«* |
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