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Who and in what year invented electricity?

Electricity is a phenomenon that arises from the movement and mutual influence of elementary charged particles. It is a fundamental form of energy that has acquired the greatest significance in modern science, industry, and everyday life.

Electricity arises from the movement and mutual influence of elementary charged particles. This fundamental form of energy has acquired the most important significance in modern science, industry, and everyday life. Electricity makes almost all modern technology work, from household appliances to complex electronic devices.

Physical manifestations:

Electric current is the ordered movement of charged particles under the influence of an electric field. Measured in amperes (A).

Voltage occurs when there is a difference in electrical potential between two points, causing charges to move. The unit of measurement is volts (V).

Resistance is the property of a material that prevents the passage of electric current. The unit of measurement is ohms (Ω).

Electricity is used in energy, electronics, medicine, industry, transport, and everyday life. It is the basis of modern civilization, and studying this phenomenon continues to open up new possibilities for science and technology.

Ancient Experiments with Electricity

Who was the first to discover electricity? Early experiments laid the foundation —as early as 600 BC, the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus discovered that if you rub amber against wool, it begins to attract light objects, such as feathers. This phenomenon became the first known observation of static electricity.

Later, in the Middle Ages, the Englishman William Gilbert published a work on experiments with electricity and magnetism. He introduced the term "electricity" and singled out electrical phenomena as a separate field of science.

The first device that could accumulate electricity is considered to be the "Leyden jar." The Dutchman Pieter van Musschenbroek created it as a capacitor capable of collecting an electric charge.

The Leyden jar was a device for storing electricity rather than generating it. Alessandro Volta invented the first device to generate electricity, the Voltaic Pile. Therefore, 1800 can be considered the year of the invention of electricity. This revolutionary achievement laid the foundation for further study of the phenomenon.

The voltaic pile consisted of alternating disks of two different metals (usually zinc and copper), separated by spacers made of fabric or cardboard soaked in an electrolyte (such as salt water or acid). The disks were stacked in a column, forming a series of connections of elements. Each pair of metal disks (zinc and copper) was an elementary cell that generated an electric current through a chemical reaction.
The voltaic pile was the first device to generate an electric current without friction (as in electrostatic machines). Its success inspired scientists to search for new ways to generate and use electricity, leading to the invention of dynamos and alternators and modern power systems.

Invention of the electrostatic generator

Electrostatic machines made generating and accumulating static electricity possible, which contributed to expanding experiments and developing scientific theories. In 1660, the Otto von Guericke Machine was created. It was a sulfur ball rotating on a metal axis. When the ball was rubbed with hands, it became electrified and could attract light objects.

In the 18th Century, electrostatic machines became more sophisticated. In 1706, Francis Hauksbee created a device that replaced Guericke's sulfur ball with a glass one, increasing its efficiency. In the 1740s, Georg Matthias Bose added conductors to Hauksbee's machine to collect the charge. In the 1760s, Jesse Ramsden created a machine with a rotating glass disk instead of a ball, significantly increasing the charge generation rate.

Later in the 19th Century, the Wimshurst machine appeared, which consisted of two rotating glass disks with metal sectors. It generated high voltage and was used to create electrical sparks.

Inventions in the 18th Century: Benjamin Franklin and others
Electrical research has a long and rich history in which several prominent scientists played key roles. Among those who invented electricity:

William Gilbert is considered one of the first researchers of electricity and magnetism. De Magnete (1600) described experiments with electrical phenomena in his work.
Otto von Guericke invented the first electrostatic machine in 1663. His experiments demonstrated the possibility of generating electricity and attracted attention to this field of science.
Benjamin Franklin experimented with a kite in 1752. He discovered that lightning is also a form of electricity.
Scientists and their discoveries created a modern understanding of electricity and determined the possibilities of its applications.

The Development of Electricity in the 19th Century

The 19th Century saw many breakthroughs in the study of electricity. Key discoveries laid the foundation for modern electrical engineering and electronics. Scientists such as Augustin-Jean Fresnel and Mikhail Lomonosov made great contributions.

Mikhail Lomonosov lived in the 18th Century, but his work influenced the development of science in the 19th Century. He studied the nature of electricity and lightning, conducting experiments with atmospheric electricity. Lomonosov developed a theory explaining electrical phenomena regarding the movement of "electric matter".

Another famous natural scientist, Augustin-Jean Fresnel, is better known for his work in optics, but he also studied electromagnetism extensively. His studies of the wave nature of light later helped in understanding electromagnetic waves, which are the basis of electricity and magnetism.

The following inventions and discoveries of the 19th Century became key:

• 1800 - Voltaic pile.
• 1820 - Oersted and the connection between electricity and magnetism.
• 1827 - Ohm's law.
• 1831 - Electromagnetic induction.
• 1865 - Maxwell's equations.

The practical application of electricity was already in 1837 when Samuel Morse presented the world with the invention of the "telegraph," which used electric current to transmit messages over long distances. The telegraph was the first commercially successful application of electricity. In 1879, Thomas Edison developed the first practical.

This is the story of many inventors who contributed to the development of electric lighting technology. The light bulb changed people's lives and became one of mankind's key inventions.

In 1802, scientist Davy created the first lamp with an electric arc. He used carbon electrodes and a powerful battery. This device produced bright light but was not practical enough for everyday use due to its high cost and short life.

Physicist Swan began commercially producing lamps in the late 19th Century and introduced these light sources into household use.

Later, Edison improved the lamp by using a carbon filament and creating a vacuum inside a glass bulb. Such a lamp could work for up to 1200 hours.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, carbon filaments were replaced by tungsten ones, which significantly increased lamp service life and efficiency.


For the first time, the active time of the day increased. Electric lighting made streets and homes safer. Cinemas, nightclubs, and other places appeared where light played a key role. Contributed to the progress of industry, trade, and the service sector since enterprises could work around the clock.
The light bulb is a symbol of progress and innovation. Its invention and improvement changed the world, making electric lighting available to billions of people.

Industrial Revolution and electricity

Electricity was an important factor in the Industrial Revolution and the basis for further technological progress. Its introduction radically changed the industry, the economy, and society, becoming one of the main factors in the modernization of the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. With the help of electricity, the following changes occurred in industry:


Electricity allowed factories and plants independent of local energy sources (coal or water).
The emergence of electricity led to the creation of new industries, such as the electrical industry and the production of household appliances, electronics, and telecommunications.

Electricity became the key driver of industrialization, transforming the economy and society. It boosted productivity, created new industries, and improved quality of life, leading the world from an agrarian to an industrial and post-industrial economy—one of the most significant achievements in human history.