Nikola Tesla

 Nikola   Tesla  ( 1 8 5 6 – 1 9 4 3 ) was a scientist, inventor & engineer who revolutionize d the modern electricity supply system. He earned a reputation during his life time in the press as a " mad scientist " & infamously clashed with Thomas Edison over patent s.

His legacy endure s in modern culture in the form of car company Tesla Motor s, monument s t o his li fe & career , & depiction s in fiction including a cross over with Sherlock Holmes ( in a series of book s by Ralph Vaughan ) , adventure s w it h Mark Twain ( in a novel by Sesh Heri ) , & Christopher Priest ' s 1 99 5 novel  The   Prestige  ( w here he w as played by David Bowie i n Christopher Nolan ' s film adaptation ).

Reference s

 * I n Muppet Sherlock Holmes #2 ( " A Scandal in Bohemia " ), Gonzo ( as Holmes ) pose s as inventor Eddie San Tesla ( who i s from Portugal , whereas the real Tesla w a s Serbian ).
 * On  SESAME STREET  in  EPISODE 4 2 6 0 , he was spoofed ( i n name only ) as Nikola Messla  , a professor offering  GROUCH  course s on line.