England was the leading European colonial power and had already established much of its overseas empire by the beginning of the 19th century. France was second, with its holdings in Southeast Asia and in North Africa, both. of these being established during the 19th century.
Thomas Edison married Mary Stilwell on December 25, 1871 (he was 24, she was 16).   She died on August 9, 1884.   He was married a second time, on February 24, 1886, at â¦the age of 39. His second wife's name was Mina Miller.
EDISON'S SECRET PARTNER. Edison (center) with his assistants gathered in front of the laboratory in 1879. Charles Batchelor is immediately to Edison's right. From 1871 to 1892 Thomas A. Edison had a secret partner, a quiet collaborator who shared the work and the profits.atchelor toiled shoulder to shoulder day and night with the famous inventor, managed factories, supervised teams of researchers, placated investors, and made business decisions during Edisons absence overseas. A skilled draftsman, Batchelor had designed some of the factories, as well as Edisons mansion Glenmount.