Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. He was born on July 10, 1856, in the village of Smiljan in what is now Croatia, which was then part of the Austrian Empire. Tesla passed away on January 7, 1943, in New York City, at the age of 86.

Tesla's parents were Serbian Orthodox Christians, and his father was a priest. Tesla had three siblings, and he was the fourth child of his parents. He attended school in Karlstadt (now Karlovac) and later studied at the Austrian Polytechnic in Graz.

After completing his studies, Tesla worked for a short time as an assistant to Thomas Edison in the United States. However, their relationship was fraught with conflict, and Tesla soon left Edison's company to pursue his own research.

Tesla's work focused on the development of electrical power and the transmission of electrical energy. He is credited with the invention of the Tesla coil, an electrical resonant transformer circuit used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla also developed the alternating current (AC) motor, which is used in many modern-day appliances.

Other notable inventions by Tesla include the Tesla turbine, a bladeless turbine design, and the magnifying transmitter, a type of wireless power transmission system.

Tesla was never married and did not have any children. He was known for his solitary lifestyle and spent much of his time focused on his work. He lived in various locations throughout his life, including New York City, Colorado Springs, and Paris.

Despite his significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering, Tesla died in relative obscurity. It was not until after his death that he began to receive recognition for his work and influence on modern technology. Today, Tesla is widely regarded as one of the most important inventors of the modern age.

Tesla was born into a Serbian family in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father, Milutin Tesla, was a Serbian Orthodox priest, and his mother, Djuka Mandic, came from a prominent family in the same region. Tesla had a close relationship with his mother and credited her with helping to foster his interest in science and engineering.

After completing his studies in Graz, Tesla moved to the United States in 1884 to work for the inventor and entrepreneur, Thomas Edison. However, their working relationship soon soured due to Edison's preference for direct current (DC) electrical systems, while Tesla championed alternating current (AC) systems. This led to a bitter rivalry between the two men, with Tesla eventually leaving Edison's employ to start his own company.

Tesla's work on AC systems culminated in the design of the first hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls, which used Tesla's AC generators to produce electricity for the city of Buffalo. This project helped to establish AC systems as the dominant form of electrical power transmission, replacing Edison's DC systems.

Tesla was also a prolific inventor who held over 300 patents for his inventions, many of which had a significant impact on modern technology. In addition to his work on AC systems, Tesla invented the fluorescent light bulb, the Tesla coil, the Tesla turbine, and the magnifying transmitter.

Despite his success as an inventor, Tesla struggled financially throughout his life and often had to rely on the support of wealthy patrons to fund his research. He also suffered from a number of personal problems, including a lifelong fear of germs and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Tesla died in 1943 at the age of 86, in relative obscurity. However, his legacy has continued to grow in the decades since his death, with many hailing him as a visionary and one of the greatest inventors in history.