Lesser known facts about Nikola Tesla

The Serbian American inventor and engineer who discovered and patented the rotating magnetic field, the basis of most alternating curent machinery, was born in 1856.

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian American inventor and engineer who discovered the rotating magnetic field. (Photo | Century Magazine/ photographer Dickenson V. Alley via wikimedia commons) 

Tesla was born in 1856 during a furious lightning storm. A child of darkness, asserted the midwife. A child of light, his mom replied! (Photo | AP)

A great humanitarian focused on improving the quality of human life. No wonder, he died penniless. (Photo | Wikimedia commons)

In 1884, he began working with Thomas Edison, creating more than 700 patents in AC electricity. (Photo | AP)

Tesla had an eidetic memory. He was known to memorise books and images and stockpile visions for inventions in his head.

He had even thought of wireless internet way back in 1901. (Photo | Reuters)

Tesla was said to have obessive compulsive disorder and insomnia. He was obsessed with the number three and had used 18 napkins to clean his table.

Several books and films have highlighted Tesla's life and famous works, including 'The secret of Nikola Tesla'. (Screengrab from YouTube)