Tesla was born "at the stroke of midnight" with lightning striking
during a summer storm. He was born to a Serbian family in Smiljan near
Gospić, Lika, (the Military Frontier of Austria-Hungary, now in
Croatia). The midwife commented, "He'll be a child of the storm," to
which his mother replied, "No, of light." Tesla was baptized in the Old
Slavonic Church rite. His Baptism Certificate reports that he was born
on June 28 (Julian calendar; July 10 in the Gregorian calendar) 1856
(10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943)
(10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943)
