author
General Electric Company
Born from the age of invention, this iconic American company helped shape everyday life with everything from light bulbs and power systems to jet engines and medical technology. Its story stretches from Thomas Edison’s era to the major corporate split that created GE Aerospace and GE Vernova.
1 Audiobook
Metropolitan Subway and Elevated Systems Bulletin 49
by General Electric Company
About the author
General Electric Company, usually known as GE, was formed in 1892 through a merger involving Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston. Over more than a century, it became one of the best-known industrial companies in the United States, building a huge presence in electricity, appliances, transportation, healthcare, finance, and aviation.
GE’s history is closely tied to some of the biggest changes in modern industry. The company grew from the early electrification era into a massive conglomerate and played a major role in technologies used in homes, factories, hospitals, and aircraft. Sources about GE’s own history and general reference works both describe it as one of America’s most influential industrial businesses.
In 2024, the company completed a major breakup that left GE Aerospace as the continuing public company, while GE Vernova became a separate business focused on energy. Because of that change, “General Electric Company” can refer both to the historic parent company and to the legacy behind the newer independent businesses.