The Last Days of Night
Historical Timeline

Edison tells the New York Sun that he’s invented an electric lamp

Edison tells the New York Sun that he’s invented an electric lamp

Edison applies for a patent on an ‘incandescent electric lamp’

Edison applies for a patent on an ‘incandescent electric lamp’

Edison receives the patent for the ‘incandescent electric lamp’

Edison receives the patent for the ‘incandescent electric lamp’

Reginald Fessenden works in Edison’s lab

Reginald Fessenden works in Edison’s lab

Tesla works for Edison

Tesla works for Edison

Edison sues the United States Electric Lighting Company and the Mount Morris Electric Light Company, both of which became adjoined with the Westinghouse Electric Company

George Westinghouse forms the Westinghouse Electric Company

Westinghouse counter-sues Edison by filing a suit against the McKeesport Light Company, an Edison entity.

Reginald Fessenden works in Edison’s lab

Agnes Huntington has a dispute with the manager of the Boston Ideals & gives an interview to the New York Times about these troubles

Westinghouse tries to compromise with Edison only to be rebuffed

Alfred Southwick, a member of the New York State Death Commission, reaches out to Thomas Edison about the efficacy of using electricity to execute prisoners, but Edison declines to get involved.

After some further prodding by Southwick, Edison has a change of heart and promotes the idea of using Westinghouse’s A/C current as the method of execution.

Edison sues Westinghouse for infringing on his lightbulb patent

Edison sues Westinghouse for infringing on his lightbulb patent

Paul is hired by George Westinghouse

Paul is hired by George Westinghouse

Westinghouse buys up smaller electrical companies and licenses his A/C technology to local firms

The workman burns on Broadway

The workman burns on Broadway

Westinghouse counter-sues Edison

Tesla’s presentation at Columbia

Reginald Fessenden works in Westinghouse’s lab

New York State Legislature establishes electrocution as the means of capital punishment, effective January 1, 1889

Harold Brown’s anti-A/C editorial is published in the New York Post

Westinghouse tries to compromise with Edison only to be rebuffed

Tesla’s presentation at Columbia

Tesla moves to Pittsburgh to work for Westinghouse

Tesla moves to Pittsburgh to work for Westinghouse

Harold Brown conducts his first animal electrocution experiment

Agnes Huntington has a dispute with the manager of the Boston Ideals

Harold Brown’s anti-A/C editorial is published in the New York Post

Tesla leaves Westinghouse’s Pittsburgh lab

Fire at Tesla’s lab

Westinghouse buys up smaller electrical companies and licenses his A/C technology to local firms

Tesla suffers from amnesia

Paul hires associate attorneys to help him with the case

Agnes gives the New York Times an interview about her troubles with the Ideals

Agnes is courted by Henry Jayne

Harold Brown conducts his first animal electrocution experiment

Break-in at Harold Brown’s office

Edison outed as being Harold Brown’s co-conspirator in promoting the electric chair.

William Kemmler kills his wife

New York Federal Court rules against Westinghouse in the lightbulb patent case

Charles Coffin helps Edison, Brown & New York State acquire an A/C generator to be used to execute Kemmler

New York State Legislature approves electric chair for use in executions

William Kemmler kills his wife

Paul appears in court and unsuccessfully argues against using the electric chair to execute Kemmler

Bourke Cockran (likely on orders from Paul Cravath) appears in court and argues against using the electric chair to execute William Kemmler

Charles Coffin helps Edison, Brown & New York State acquire a Westinghouse A/C generator to be used in Kemmler’s execution

Break-in at Harold Brown’s office

William Kemmler is executed via an electric chair

Edison outed as being Harold Brown’s co-conspirator in promoting the electric chair.

Baring Brothers collapses

Westinghouse faces bankruptcy and he and Paul appeal to creditors in New York City

Tesla leaves Westinghouse’s Pittsburgh lab

The Pittsburgh Circuit Court rules against Westinghouse in the lightbulb case, stating that Edison alone created a practical, functioning bulb

Agnes Huntington & Henry Jayne engage in a courtship

Tesla works on X-Rays with Wilhelm Röntgen

Reginal Fessenden outed as a spy for Edison

Edison is removed as the head of EGE and Charles Coffin is installed in his stead

Westinghouse licenses Tesla’s A/C patents to the newly-renamed General Electric

General Electric licenses Edison’s lightbulb patent to Westinghouse

Westinghouse provides Tesla with a new lab

Westinghouse convinces Tesla to sign away his royalty on his A/C patents

Agnes breaks things off with Henry Jayne

Tesla becomes a minor celebrity in New York City

Tesla becomes a minor celebrity in New York City

William Kemmler is executed using an electric chair

Agnes discusses her career in an interview with The New York Times

Baring Brothers collapses

Westinghouse faces bankruptcy and he and Paul appeal to creditors in New York City

Westinghouse convinces Tesla to sign away his royalty on his A/C patents

The New York Federal Court upholds Edison’s prior victory in the lightbulb case

Paul and Agnes get married

Agnes and Henry Jayne dissolve their relationship

Tesla suffers from amnesia

Edison is removed as the head of EGE and Charles Coffin is installed in his stead

EGE maintains its victory in the lightbulb case in the Federal Court of Appeals

Paul and Agnes get married

The US Supreme Court upholds Edison’s lightbulb patent, officially ending the ‘Seven Years’ Incandescent Lightbulb War’

World Columbian Exposition

World Columbian Exposition

Reginald Fessenden works for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh

A Westinghouse Electric draftsman is outed as a spy for Edison

Tesla works on X-Rays with Wilhelm Röntgen

Fire at Tesla’s lab

Paul, Westinghouse, Edison & Tesla gather at Niagara Falls

Westinghouse licenses Tesla’s A/C patents to the newly-renamed General Electric

Tesla’s first visit to Niagara Falls; his companions included Paul Cravath & George Westinghouse

Niagara Falls Power & Conduit Company Banquet to celebrate electric power being generated by the Falls

Paul implements the ‘Cravath System’