Umair Gaines
The history of electricity is a fascinating one, with many discoveries and inventions being made between 1700 and 1900. During this period, electricity evolved from an intellectual curiosity to a powerful force that could be harnessed and distributed on a large scale. Notable figures such as Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Michael Faraday made significant contributions to the understanding and application of electricity, paving the way for modern conveniences and luxuries that rely on electrical power.
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What You'll Learn
Francis Hauksbee's electrostatic generator
The history of electricity is a fascinating one, with the first documentation dating back to 500 BC when Thales of Miletus discovered static electricity by rubbing fur on amber. However, it was between the 1700s and 1800s that electricity was truly harnessed and its potential realised.
One of the key figures in this story is Francis Hauksbee (or Hawksbee), an English scientist who designed his own electrostatic generator in the early 1700s. Hauksbee was inspired by the work of Frenchman Jean Picard, who discovered that shaking a barometer containing mercury resulted in a glow. Reproducing this, Hauksbee created a mercurial glow in a bell jar using a vacuum pump of his own invention. This caught the attention of the Royal Society of London, and at the urging of Sir Isaac Newton, he was invited to join them as an experimenter in 1705.
Hauksbee's electrostatic generator was a modified version of Otto von Guericke's generator. He placed a small amount of mercury in a glass globe, evacuated the air to create a vacuum, and then rubbed the ball to build up a charge. This resulted in a glow bright enough to read by. This effect, similar to St. Elmo's fire, later became the basis of gas-discharge lamps and neon lighting.
Hauksbee's work on electricity and electrostatic repulsion was groundbreaking. He continued to experiment, making observations and developing machines to generate and demonstrate various electrical phenomena. In 1708, he independently discovered Charles's law of gases. He also studied the absence of sound in a vacuum, capillary action, and electroluminescence.
Hauksbee's electrostatic generator was a significant contribution to the field of electricity, and his work, along with that of other pioneers, paved the way for the innovations of Tesla and Edison, who enabled the widespread use of electricity in the Industrial Revolution.
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Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment
The kite experiment, proposed and conducted by Benjamin Franklin in 1752, was a scientific experiment that investigated the nature of lightning and electricity. Franklin's experiment demonstrated that lightning and electricity were the result of the same phenomenon, marking a significant milestone in the history of electricity.
Franklin's experiment involved flying a kite with a pointed conductive wire attached to its apex near thunderclouds. The purpose was to collect static electricity from the air and conduct it down the kite string to the ground. The kite was constructed using a large silk handkerchief, with a hemp string attached to the top to serve as a lightning rod, and a silk string attached to the bottom. The hemp string, when wet, would conduct an electrical charge quickly, while the silk string would remain dry and insulated. A metal key was attached to the hemp string, and a Leyden jar—an early form of capacitor—was connected to it to store the electrical charge.
Franklin conducted this experiment with the assistance of his son, William. According to British scientist Joseph Priestley's account, Franklin originally planned to perform the experiment atop a church spire in Philadelphia but changed his plans when he realized he could achieve the same goal using a kite. They waited for a thunderstorm and flew the kite in an open field. As the kite flew near the thunderclouds, the pointed wire drew the electric charge, electrifying the kite and the twine. The loose filaments of the twine stood erect, attracted by an approaching finger, demonstrating the electrical nature of lightning.
Franklin's own description of the experiment was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on October 19, 1752, providing instructions for recreating it. He wrote:
> "As soon as any of the Thunder Clouds come over the Kite, the pointed Wire will draw the Electric Fire from them, and the Kite, with all the Twine, will be electrified, and the loose Filaments of the Twine will stand out every Way, and be attracted by an approaching Finger. And when the Rain has wet the Kite and Twine, so that it can conduct the Electric Fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from the Key on the Approach of your Knuckle. At this Key the Phial may be charg’d; and from Electric Fire thus obtain’d, Spirits may be kindled, and all the other Electric Experiments be perform’d, which are usually done by the Help of a rubbed Glass Globe or Tube; and thereby the Sameness of the Electric Matter with that of Lightning compleatly demonstrated."
It is important to note that Benjamin Franklin did not discover electricity during this experiment or at all. Electrical forces had been recognized for centuries, and scientists had previously worked with static electricity. Franklin's contribution was in demonstrating the connection between lightning and electricity.
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Michael Faraday's electric motor
The history of electricity is a fascinating one, with the earliest documentation dating back to 500 BC when Thales of Miletus discovered static electricity by rubbing fur on amber. However, it was between the 18th and 19th centuries that electricity truly began to light up the world. During this period, scientists and inventors made groundbreaking discoveries and inventions that laid the foundation for the modern electrical world we live in today. One of the key figures in this story is Michael Faraday, whose work on the electric motor was truly revolutionary.
Michael Faraday, born in 1791 to a poor family in England, was a curious child who questioned everything. He started working at a young age as an errand boy in a bookbinding shop, where he developed a love for reading and knowledge. This curiosity and self-education led him to become a famous chemist and physicist later in life.
Faraday's interest in the concept of energy and force drove him to make important discoveries in electricity. In 1821, he wrote a paper on the electric motor, which unfortunately led to accusations of plagiarism from his mentor, Humphry Davy. Undeterred, Faraday continued his experiments and, in 1831, he made a groundbreaking discovery. He found that by rotating a copper disc between the poles of a magnet, he could produce a constant electric current. This was the first dynamo and the direct ancestor of the modern electric motor.
Faraday's work on electromagnetic induction and his creation of the first electric transformer further solidified his legacy in the history of electricity. He also proved in 1832 that electricity induced from a magnet, voltaic electricity from a battery, and static electricity were all the same. His experimental skills and contributions to electromagnetism, electrochemistry, and electrolysis earned him the title of "father of the electric motor."
Today, we can still visit Faraday's lab in London, England, at the Royal Institute in Mayfair, and his work continues to inspire and power our world.
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Thomas Edison's incandescent lightbulb
The history of electricity is a fascinating one, with the first documentation dating back to 500 BC when Thales of Miletus discovered static electricity. Fast forward to the 1700s, and English scientist Francis Hauksbee experimented with electrical attraction and repulsion, creating a glowing glass ball bright enough to read by. This discovery would eventually pave the way for neon lighting.
Now, let's delve into the details of Thomas Edison's incandescent lightbulb, a pivotal invention within the designated time frame.
Thomas Alva Edison, an American inventor and businessman, was a prolific figure in the realm of innovation. He is renowned for his improvements to the incandescent light bulb, which played a pivotal role in making electric lighting feasible and accessible worldwide. Edison's journey with the incandescent light bulb began in the late 1870s. In 1877, he invented the Edison Speaking Phonograph, and in the following year, he established the Edison Electric Light Company in New York City.
On December 31, 1879, Edison publicly demonstrated his incandescent light bulb for the first time in Menlo Park. This momentous occasion marked the beginning of a revolution in lighting technology. During this demonstration, he uttered the famous words, "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles." Henry Villard, president of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, witnessed this demonstration and requested Edison to install his electric lighting system aboard the company's new steamer, the Columbia.
Edison's incandescent light bulb was not without its drawbacks. The filaments, which produce light, were delicate and prone to burning out quickly. However, a Black inventor named Lewis Latimer played a crucial role in refining Edison's design. Latimer enhanced the durability of the carbon filament by encasing it in cardboard, making the lightbulb more robust and efficient.
Edison's incandescent lamp system operated on low-voltage direct current (DC). While this had limitations in terms of range and applicability, it marked a significant step forward in the quest to make electricity accessible and affordable. The competition between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) technologies intensified, with George Westinghouse emerging as Edison's chief rival in the AC market. Despite expressing concerns about the safety of AC, Edison's DC empire laid the groundwork for further innovations in electrical distribution and lighting.
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Charles F. Brush's dynamo design
The history of electricity is a fascinating one, with many pioneers making significant contributions over the centuries. One such innovator was Charles Francis Brush, an American engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Born in 1849 in Euclid Township, Ohio, Brush had a keen interest in science from a young age. He constructed his first static electric machine at the age of twelve and fulfilled his dream of building an arc light while still in high school. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1869, Brush worked as an iron ore salesman and continued experimenting with electricity in his spare time.
Brush's entry into the world of electricity began with his interest in arc lighting. He recognized the potential of using a dynamo, a type of electrical generator, to power arc lights. In 1876, he secured backing from the Wetting Supply Company in Cleveland to design his dynamo. Brush started with the design of Zénobe Gramme but eventually created a unique version that retained the ring armature idea of Antonio Pacinotti.
The key advantage of Brush's dynamo design was its simplicity and ease of maintenance. His system automatically increased voltage with greater load while keeping the current constant. This made it a more reliable and efficient source of electricity compared to other contemporary designs. The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia recognized these advantages and, in 1878, deemed Brush's arc lamps superior to all existing versions. This endorsement, along with Brush's subsequent patents refining the design of his arc lights, led to their widespread adoption.
Brush's dynamo played a pivotal role in the development of a commercially viable lighting system. By 1879, he had installed the first electric light system in the United States in Cleveland, Ohio. The success of his design attracted attention, and in the same year, the California Electric Light Company purchased two of his generators. This marked the first instance of a utility selling electricity from a central plant to multiple customers, a significant milestone in the history of electricity. Brush's company, the Brush Electric Company, founded in 1880, faced stiff competition but nonetheless illuminated the streets of several cities, including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, by 1881.
Brush's contributions to the commercial development of electricity were significant, and he is considered one of the primary innovators in the field. His work on arc lamps and dynamos laid the foundation for modern lighting systems, and his persistence in the face of public wariness and technical challenges helped make electrical lighting a common commodity by the end of the 1880s.
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Frequently asked questions
The first documentation of electricity dates back to 500 BC when Thales of Miletus discovered static electricity by rubbing amber with fur. In the 1700s, Francis Hauksbee invented an electrostatic generator made of a glass sphere that produced an electric charge when turned by a crank.
In 1752, Benjamin Franklin demonstrated that lightning was electrical through his famous kite experiment. In 1775, Hugh Williamson reported experiments on the shocks delivered by the electric eel. In 1800, Alessandro Volta's battery provided scientists with a more reliable source of electrical energy.
In 1821, Michael Faraday invented the electric motor. In 1839, Sir William Robert Grove developed the first fuel cell. In 1879, Thomas Edison invented an incandescent lightbulb that could be used for about 40 hours.
In the earliest days of home electrification, electricity was carried by bare copper wires with minimal insulation. Sockets, switch handles, and fuse blocks were made of wood. Lights would dim and brighten in response to the demand on the electrical grid.
In 1879, the California Electric Light Company, Inc. in San Francisco became the first electric company to sell electricity to customers. In 1882, Thomas Edison founded the Edison Electric Light Co. in New York City. By 1901, General Electric Co. (GE) had successfully developed a 500-kW Curtis turbine generator.
