Nikola Tesla

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Tesla's posthumous recognition is extraordinary. The tesla unit, named in 1960, is a permanent scientific tribute. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and ranked among Time's 100 most significant figures. His AC system powers the world, a legacy unmatched by most inventors. The resurgence of interest since the 1990s has turned him into a cult icon, celebrated in everything from rock songs to car brands. His Wardenclyffe lab was saved and turned into a museum, a testament to his lasting appeal.

AwardsNikola Tesla received several honors during his lifetime, including the Edison Medal in 1916 and the John Scott Medal in 1934. Posthumously, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1975 and the IEEE's list of top electrical engineers. In 2013, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most significant figures of all time. The SI unit of magnetic flux density, the tesla, was named after him in 1960.

Honours & Distinctions

SI Unit Named After Him

General Conference on Weights and Measures·1960

The tesla (T) was adopted as the SI unit of magnetic flux density.

Time 100 Most Significant Figures

Time Magazine·2013

Listed among the 100 most significant figures of all time.

IEEE Milestone

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers·1990

Designated the Tesla Memorial Society as an IEEE Milestone for the AC induction motor.

Records & Feats

First to demonstrate wireless power transmission

Historic First·1891

In 1891, Tesla wirelessly lit bulbs in his lab using high-frequency currents, a historic first.

First remote-controlled vehicle

Historic First·1898

Tesla demonstrated a radio-controlled boat in 1898, the world's first such device.

Most powerful man-made lightning

Career Milestone·1899

In 1899, Tesla generated artificial lightning bolts up to 135 feet long at his Colorado Springs lab.