Nikolai Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer, born on July 10, 1856. He is best known for his contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) electrical systems, which are widely used for power distribution today. Tesla's innovations include the Tesla coil and various technologies that laid the groundwork for modern electricity and wireless communication. Throughout his life, Tesla held over 300 patents and worked on numerous projects, including radio transmission and X-ray imaging. Despite his groundbreaking work, he struggled financially and often faced challenges in commercializing his inventions. Tesla passed away on January 7, 1943, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of science and technology.