ThomasEdisonwasborninMilan,Ohio,andgrewupinPortHuron,Michigan.HewastheseventhandlastchildofSamuelOgdenEdison,Jr.(1804–96,borninMarshalltown,NovaScotia,Canada)andNancyMatthewsElliott(1810–1871,borninChenangoCounty,NewYork).[citationneeded]HisfatherhadtoescapefromCanadabecausehetookpartintheunsuccessfulMackenzieRebellionof1837.[citationneeded]EdisonconsideredhimselftobeofDutchancestry.

　　Inschool,theyoungEdison'smindoftenwandered,andhisteacher,theReverendEngle,wasoverheardcallinghim"addled".ThisendedEdison'sthreemonthsofofficialschooling.Edisonrecalledlater,"Mymotherwasthemakingofme.Shewassotrue,sosureofme;andIfeltIhadsomethingtolivefor,someoneImustnotdisappoint."Hismotherhomeschooledhim.[4]MuchofhiseducationcamefromreadingR.G.Parker'sSchoolofNaturalPhilosophyandTheCooperUnion.

　　Edisondevelopedhearingproblemsatanearlyage.Thecauseofhisdeafnesshasbeenattributedtoaboutofscarletfeverduringchildhoodandrecurringuntreatedmiddle-earinfections.AroundthemiddleofhiscareerEdisonattributedthehearingimpairmenttobeingstruckontheearsbyatrainconductorwhenhischemicallaboratoryinaboxcarcaughtfireandhewasthrownoffthetraininSmithsCreek,Michigan,alongwithhisapparatusandchemicals.Inhislateryearshemodifiedthestorytosaytheinjuryoccurredwhentheconductor,inhelpinghimontoamovingtrain,liftedhimbytheears.

　　Edison'sfamilywasforcedtomovetoPortHuron,Michigan,whentherailroadbypassedMilanin1854,buthislifetherewasbittersweet.HesoldcandyandnewspapersontrainsrunningfromPortHurontoDetroit,andhesoldvegetablestosupplementhisincome.ThisbeganEdison'slongstreakofentrepreneurialventuresashediscoveredhistalentsasabusinessman.Thesetalentseventuallyledhimtofound14companies,includingGeneralElectric,whichisstillinexistenceasoneofthelargestpubliclytradedcompaniesintheworld