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Ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus described static electricity by rubbing fur on substances such as amber. 1600: English scientist William Gilbert coined the word electricus after careful experiments. He also explained the magnetism of Earth. 1660: German scientist Otto von Guericke invented a device that creates static electricity ...
The timeline of historic inventions is a chronological list of particularly significant technological inventions and their inventors, where known. [ a ] The dates in this article make frequent use of the units mya and kya , which refer to millions and thousands of years ago, respectively.
Volta's inventions led to revolutionary changes with this method of the production of inexpensive, controlled electric current vs. existing frictional machines and Leyden jars. The electric battery became standard equipment in every experimental laboratory and heralded an age of practical applications of electricity.
The invention of the industrial generator in 1866 by Werner von Siemens – which did not need external magnetic power – made a large series of other inventions possible. In 1873, James Clerk Maxwell published a unified treatment of electricity and magnetism in A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism which stimulated several theorists to ...
Thomas E. Murray (October 21, 1860 – July 21, 1929) was an American inventor and businessman who developed electric power plants for New York City as well as many electrical devices which influenced life around the world, including the dimmer switch and screw-in fuse.
History of electricity can refer to: See Electricity § History for an overview; History of electromagnetic theory; History of electrical engineering; History of electric power transmission; History of electronic engineering
Streetcars created enormous demand for early electricity. This Siemens Tram from 1884 required 500 V direct current, which was typical. Much of early electricity was direct current, which could not easily be increased or decreased in voltage either for long-distance transmission or for sharing a common line to be used with multiple types of electric devices.
The invention builds on acetylene lamps from the 1890s. 1901 Peter Cooper Hewitt creates the first commercial mercury-vapor lamp. 1904 Alexander Just and Franjo Hanaman invent the tungsten filament for incandescent lightbulbs. 1910 Georges Claude demonstrates neon lighting at the Paris Motor Show. 1912 Charles P. Steinmetz invents the metal ...