Growing Up

Born in 1856 the son of an Orthodox priest in Smiljan, Croatia, Nikola Tesla had an early exposure to inventing.  His mother, although unschooled, was a very intelligent woman who often created appliances that helped with home and farm responsibilities, such as a mechanical eggbeater.

Young Nikola was schooled at home during his early years and later attended a school in Carlstadt, Croatia.  He soon developed advanced skills such as doing calculus integrals in his head.

He very deeply wanted to attend college and become an engineer, but his father wanted him to join the priesthood.  When Nikola was seventeen, he caught cholera and made his father to promise that if he survived the illness that he would be allowed to go to college.

Obviously, Nikola lived.

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