Physics By gamerktc12 Jan 1, 1088 Chinese scientist Shen Kou wrote of the magnetic needle compass Jan 1, 1746 Benjamin Franklin discovered charge. Jan 1, 1750 Various physicists started working on the electrostatic machine Jan 1, 1800 Alessandro Volta constructed what is now called the electric battery. Jan 1, 1830 Electromagnetic Induction was discovered. Jan 1, 1873 The carbon fibre filament light bulb was invented by Joseph W. Swan. Jan 1, 1874 The term 'electron' was coined by George Stoney. Jan 1, 1877 Incandescent lamps were invented. Jan 1, 1929 American physicist Robert Van de Graaff invented made an electrostatic generator, which was named after him.