Energy Timeline

The Vacuum

Jan 1, 1660

1660: Otto Von Guericke (Germany) described and demonstrated a vacuum, and then invented a machine that produced static electricity.

Electrical Charges

Jan 1, 1675

Stephen Gray (England) distinguished between conductors and nonconductors of electrical charges.

Electric Capacitator

Jan 1, 1745

1745-1746: Georg Von Kleist (Germany) developed the first electric capacitator, a device for storing electricity

Ben Franklin

Jan 1, 1752

1752: Ben Franklin (United States) tied a key to a kite string during a thunderstorm, and proved that static electricity and lightning were the same thing.

Volt

Jan 1, 1800

Alessandro Volta (Italy) invented the first electric battery. The term volt is named in his honor.

Arc Lamp

Jan 1, 1808

1808: Sir Humphry Davy (England) invented the first effective lamp. The arc lamp was a piece of carbon that glowed when connected by wires to a battery.

Electric Motor

Jan 1, 1821

1821: Michael Faraday (England) discovered the principle of electro-magnetic rotation that would later be the key to developing the electric motor.

Georg Ohm

Jan 1, 1826

1826: Georg Ohm (Germany) defined the relationship between power, voltage, current and resistance in Ohms Law

Joseph Henry

Jan 1, 1831

1831: Joseph Henry (United States) separately discovered the principle of electromagnetic induction but did not publish his work. He also described an electric motor.

Thomas Davenport

Jan 1, 1837

1837: Thomas Davenport (United States) invented the electric motor, an invention that is used in most electrical appliances today.