| Jan 2 | Begins construction of his first generator. |
| Jan 19-29 | Conducts an extensive series of experiments on platinum and other metals. |
| Mar 14 | Edison's nephew, Charles P. Edison, tests the new electromotograph (loud-speaking) telephone receiver in London. |
| Mar | Devises a bipolar generator design ("Long-legged Mary Ann"). |
| May 14 | Incorporates the Edison Telephone Company of Europe. |
| May | Provides a generator for running arc lights aboard the USS Jeannette during its Arctic mission. |
| June 17 | Receives an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the trustees of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey. |
| Spring | Begins a search for plentiful supplies of platinum in the mining regions of Canada and in the western and southern United States. |
| Aug 2 | Participates in organizing the Edison Telephone Company of London. |
| Aug | Hires glassblower Ludwig Boehm and begins developing improved vacuum pumps. |
| Summer | Makes improvements in his electromotograph telephone receiver for England. |
| Oct 14 | Signs an agreement with Jose D. Husbands for the sale of Edison telephones in Chile. |
| Oct 22 | Conducts the first successful experiment with a high-resistance carbon filament. |
| Nov 1 | Executes his first patent application for a high-resistance carbon filament (U.S. Pat. 223,898). |
| Dec 9 | Organizes the Edison Ore Milling Company. |
| Dec 31 | Holds the first public demonstration of his incandescent electric lighting system at Menlo Park. |
