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600 BCE
Discovery of static electricity
Thales of Miletus discovers static electricity by rubbing together animal fur and amber -
Naming of electricity
Dr. William Gilbert discovered laws of attractions ad repulsions between magnets, proves many substances are electric/ magnetic, and comes up with the term "electricity" -
Lightning is electricity
Benjamin Franklin conducts a kite experiment during a thunderstorm and discovers that lightning is a form of electricity -
Discovery of electric current
Alessandro Volta discovered electric current and invented batteries. The volt is named after him. -
Electric Circuit
Andre Marie Ampere explains how a circuit works by describing the current flow of electricity through a wire. The "amp" was named after him. -
Electric Generator
Michael Faraday discovered a way to convert mechanical energy into electricity to create the first electric generator. -
The Light Bulb
Thomas Edison invents the light bulb and a type of generator that works with the steam engine James Watt invented in 1769.
