Tesla in Belgrade - June 2, 1892

In the year 1892, Nikola Tesla, the renowned scientist and inventor, once again traveled to Europe to present the results of his research to the scientific communities of Great Britain and France. The success he achieved with his lectures in London and Paris was covered extensively by the contemporary press.

After visiting Lika, Zagreb, and Budapest, upon the invitation of the Belgrade municipal delegation and the Engineering Society, Tesla arrived in Belgrade, the capital of the Kingdom of Serbia, on June 1, 1892. His arrival sparked great interest among the professional public and drew large numbers of Belgrade residents who wished to see and meet the famous scientist, a Serb by origin, who had earned worldwide fame in distant lands.

Nikola Tesla was received with the highest honors by His Majesty King Aleksandar I and the royal government. By decree of the royal regents, on the proposal of Andre Nikolić, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Tesla was awarded the Order of St. Sava, Second Class. This order was one of the first decorations Tesla received for his scientific work.

This was Tesla's only visit to Belgrade (his ethnic Serbian homeland's capital at the time), which lasted about 31 hours. He arrived late on June 1, 1892, was celebrated enthusiastically, met the king, received the Order of St. Sava (his first major decoration), and departed the next day.