About me
I was born on July 10, 1856, in Smiljan, a small village in Lika, the Military Frontier, which was then part of the Austrian Empire. It was during a great summer storm, and the story goes that lightning struck near our house at the moment of my birth. According to family lore, the midwife present at my birth, upon hearing the thunder, remarked, “This child will be a child of darkness.” However, my mother, with her wisdom and deep intuition, reportedly replied, “No, he will be a child of light.” This moment is often described as prophetic, as my life later became deeply connected to electricity.
I was the fourth of five children in our family. Before me, my parents, Milutin and Đuka, already had three children. My eldest brother, Dane, tragically passed away in his youth, and I also had two sisters, Angelina and Milka. After me, my youngest sister, Marica, was born. My mother, Đuka, an incredibly strong and skilled woman, gave birth to me at home, as was customary at the time.
I was baptized in the Eastern Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul in Smiljan, where my father, Milutin, served as a priest. My baptismal name was Nikolaj. The ceremony was conducted by Toma Oklobdžija, a priest from Gospić, and my godfather was Jovan Drenovac, a frontier captain and a close friend of my father.
Our home in Smiljan was modest but filled with love and family values. My father was a priest at the local Orthodox church, and my mother cared for the household and raised the children. From the very beginning, my parents noticed that I was an unusual child—quiet but with a pronounced curiosity and imagination. They often remarked that, even as a child, I showed a deep interest in science and natural phenomena.
My ancestors migrated to Lika from western Serbia and adopted the surname Tesla upon settling in the region. The origin of our surname remains uncertain, but there are two main theories. In Serbian, “tesla” is a tool—a small axe or chisel with a blade perpendicular to the handle—used by carpenters. It is possible that one of my ancestors was a master carpenter, and the family was named after this craft. Another theory suggests that the surname might be linked to a physical characteristic. In Serbian folklore, “Tesla” was sometimes used to describe a person with prominent or large teeth. In our family, some of us had distinctive teeth, which could explain the surname.
Father
My father, Milutin Tesla, was a man I could describe as the pillar of our family and someone deeply connected to books, faith, and tradition. He was born on February 15, 1819, in Raduc, in the heart of Lika. He grew up in a time that demanded great effort and sacrifice. His life journey led him to the priesthood, which in our region was not just a profession but a calling with profound responsibility.
He was exceptionally talented. After completing his primary education in German, he attended the Military Academy with his brother Josif. While there, he developed a love for natural sciences and mathematics. However, military life, with all its strict rules, did not suit his nature. He decided to leave the army and enroll in the Orthodox Seminary in Plaški, demonstrating his strong will and desire to become a priest. He graduated in 1845 as the top student in his class. He had an extraordinary love for reading.
As a priest in the Karlovac Metropolitanate, he served in several places, including Senj and Gospić, but his longest tenure was in Smiljan, where I was born. He was respected not only for his skills but also for his ability to understand people, advise them, and inspire them to be better. Even his sermons were not just words of faith but also messages that motivated people to strive for learning and self-improvement.
He was an incredibly educated man. His library was a treasure trove for me. It contained books in various languages, and he loved reading both classical literature and texts on philosophy, history, and linguistics. He often wrote with great precision, whether it was letters, sermons, or poetry. His poetry, though unpublished, reflected a deep love for nature, people, and God.
As a father, he was strict but fair. I remember his warm yet resolute voice when he taught us, his children, how to do things properly. He always insisted on discipline but was not the kind of father who merely commanded; he would sit with me and explain why something was important. Although he did not always understand my obsession with machines and electricity, he supported me when I was gravely ill. He promised me that I could pursue whatever I wanted if I recovered, and I did. From that moment, he supported my scientific aspirations, even though I knew it was not easy for him.
My brother Dane was the cherished child in our family, and his loss was a heavy blow to all of us. My father never showed weakness in front of us, but I knew it broke him. Even during those times, he demonstrated incredible strength, continuing to be a pillar of support for everyone around him.
When he passed away in 1879, I felt that I had lost not only my father but also my first teacher, inspiration, and mentor. His life was a testament to living with integrity and love for knowledge, even in challenging times. Much of what I achieved, I owe to him.
Mother
My mother, Georgina Mandić, whom we all called Đuka, was born in 1822 in the village of Tomingaj near Gračac in Lika. She was the eldest of eight children. After her mother passed away at a young age, she was forced to take care of her siblings from an early age, which likely explains why, given the circumstances of the time, she married relatively late.
She was a woman of incredible strength, intellect, and talent. Born into a family deeply rooted in Orthodox tradition, she had a unique ability to understand and master anything that required skill and creativity. Đuka grew up in an environment where daily life was challenging, but her remarkable energy and spirit always overcame obstacles.
My mother did not have formal education, never attended school, and was illiterate, but she was exceptionally intelligent and resourceful. She knew countless Serbian folk songs by heart, and it was said she could recite the entirety of Njegoš’s “The Mountain Wreath.” She was a role model for many women in the Krajina region, known for her exceptional skills in household chores and handicrafts. She was a true inventor in our home. She had an incredible gift for creating everything—from household tools to intricate crafts. She often devised new ways to speed up household tasks, and I can say that her practical genius inspired my own inventive spirit. I remember her crafting small devices for food preparation or weaving, which always impressed the people in our community.
She was the cornerstone of our family, not only because she cared for the house and raised six children but also because her wisdom and calm demeanor created a warm and stable environment. She had an extraordinary memory—she could recite long poems and stories she had learned as a child. She greatly valued folk traditions, and from her, I learned many old sayings and proverbs that I would later often quote.
My mother always supported my curiosity and interest in science. While my father was often skeptical of my unusual ideas, my mother consistently encouraged me, even when she did not fully understand what I was attempting. Her intuition was remarkable—she could sense what was important and knew how to support me, even when my dreams seemed impossible.
She was also deeply religious, but her faith was never dogmatic. It was reflected in her actions—in the way she cared for others, shared everything she had, and never hesitated to help anyone in need. I remember how she always found time to talk to us children, no matter how busy she was.
When she passed away on April 16, 1892, in Gospić, I felt an immense loss. She was not just my mother but also my first role model in overcoming life’s challenges with creativity and patience. Her love and support were the foundation upon which I built my life and dreams. Everything I accomplished, I owe largely to her. Her strength, perseverance, and love for creation are woven into every thought and invention of mine.
Uncle (Father’s Brother)
My uncle, Josif Tesla, completed military school and became an officer, eventually attaining the rank of Imperial and Royal Major (K und K). Notably, he studied mathematics and even authored a textbook for military academies.
Grandfather and Grandmother (Father’s Parents)
My paternal grandfather, Nikola Tesla, was an extraordinary man. Born in 1789, he was part of a “distinguished frontier family” in the village of Raduc.
Nikola served as a staff sergeant during the Napoleonic Wars when the Krajina region became part of the French province of Illyria. Serving in the French military was a remarkable achievement for a Serb at that time. His role in the army highlighted his status, strength, and determination. After 1815, following the restoration of Austrian rule, he relocated to Gospić.
He married Ana Kalinić, a woman from a prominent officer’s family. Ana was the daughter of an officer, and her relatives, such as Svetozar Kalinić, the governor of Ogulin, were renowned for their work and accomplishments. Their marriage symbolized the union of two respected families from Lika.
They had five children: my father Milutin, his brother Josif, and three sisters—Stanka, Janja, and one whose name was not recorded. My grandmother Ana, like Nikola, played an important role in shaping the lives of their children, providing them not only with strong family values but also with education.
Nikola and Ana left a lasting legacy in our family. Their perseverance, moral strength, and dedication to their family were passed down to my father and, through him, to me. Memories of my grandfather Nikola and grandmother Ana have always been an inspiration to me in challenging times, a reminder of who I am and where I come from.
Grandfather and Grandmother (Mother’s Parents)
My maternal grandfather, Nikola Mandić, was born in 1801 and passed away in 1868. He served as a parish priest in Gornji Gračac.
My grandmother, my mother’s mother, was named Sofija, though she was affectionately called Soka.
My Sisters
Milka Glumičić
Milka, the eldest among us, was born in Senj in 1852. She first married Voja Glumičić, but their marriage was unhappy. Voja passed away in late 1892, and after his death, Milka remarried. She had one daughter, Georgina (Gina), who later married Petar Lalić. I often criticized Milka for behavior I considered inappropriate, but despite this, she remained an important member of our family. She passed away in November 1911.
Angelina Trbojević
Angelina was born in Smiljan on June 20, 1853. She married Jovo Trbojević, a priest, and lived in various places where her husband served, including Petrovo Selo and Metka. They had five children—three sons and two daughters. Their son Nikola emigrated to the United States and changed his name to Nicholas Terbo.
Angelina was very close to me. I loved her so much that, even though I was across the ocean, I sensed her death on August 16, 1931, in Kistanje, Dalmatia, where she was buried. Her love and support were always of great importance to me.
Her son, Nikola Trbojević, followed in my footsteps as a young man. He went to America and became an engineer in the automotive industry. Many automotive transmissions in use today are based on some of his inventions.
Marica Kosanović
Marica, the youngest of us, was born in Smiljan in 1859. In 1877, she married Prota Nikola Kosanović, the protopresbyter of Rijeka. Her husband was a significant figure in our family circle, as the author of the first article about me in Serbian, published in Branič in 1889, and as a translator of Schiller’s works. Unfortunately, Nikola Kosanović passed away in 1899, leaving Marica a widow. She later lived in Zagreb, where she passed away on October 29, 1938.
Marica’s eldest son, Sava Kosanović, was a Yugoslav politician, diplomat, and publicist. He often stayed in the United States, and we were very close.