Many people think of the era of electricity as beginning with Thomas Edison and his electric lamp (or light bulb). His work was crucial in popularizing electricity and in making it practical for modern life, but a long list of scientists preceded Edison in this field. It took centuries of work just to discover what electricity is. I already mentioned the Greeks and their party tricks—creating static electricity by rubbing a piece of amber with wool or fur. They became pretty busy creating democracy as well as feta cheese, so they didn’t get any further with electricity.
A couple thousand years later, around the year 1600, English scientist William Gilbert got the ball rolling again when he coined the term “electric” while describing the theory of magnetism. He was followed by a host of physicists, most of whom had laws, theories, or measurements named after them. These scientists laid the groundwork for industrialists like Edison and Westinghouse, who were able to exploit electricity and get it out of the laboratory.
Once the light bulbs started glowing, electricity became the computer industry of its day, with constant innovations, the building of an infrastructure, and a steady array of new uses. The dreams of merchandisers were realized in the years to follow, as they convinced the world to buy new gadgets and products that everyone previously had lived without, apparently in blissful ignorance. Electric lamps were followed by early versions of curling irons, electric cars, and waffle irons. Today, even Edison would be amazed at the electric world he helped create.
A couple thousand years later, around the year 1600, English scientist William Gilbert got the ball rolling again when he coined the term “electric” while describing the theory of magnetism. He was followed by a host of physicists, most of whom had laws, theories, or measurements named after them. These scientists laid the groundwork for industrialists like Edison and Westinghouse, who were able to exploit electricity and get it out of the laboratory.
Once the light bulbs started glowing, electricity became the computer industry of its day, with constant innovations, the building of an infrastructure, and a steady array of new uses. The dreams of merchandisers were realized in the years to follow, as they convinced the world to buy new gadgets and products that everyone previously had lived without, apparently in blissful ignorance. Electric lamps were followed by early versions of curling irons, electric cars, and waffle irons. Today, even Edison would be amazed at the electric world he helped create.
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