When Was Electricity Invented?

The harnessing of electricity was perhaps one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the last few centuries. Electricity wasn't really invented; it was discovered and harnessed into how we use it today.

The earliest known recording of electricity dates back to 600 BC. Thales of Miletus chronicled the discovery of static electricity. He was able to charge amber by rubbing it.

Static electricity is a buildup of electric charge on the surface of objects. This charge then remains on the object until the charge either bleeds off to the ground, or until it is neutralized through the process of discharge.

Static electricity is caused by a separation of negative and positive charges in the atoms (also known as the separation of electrons, which are negatively charged, and protons, which are positively charged).

When two materials come in contact with each other, electrons may move from one object to another. One material will have an excess positive charge and one material will have an excess negative charge. Although other individuals may have discovered static electricity before Thales, this is the earliest recording of it.

Early Production

In 1660, Otto von Guericke then invented a machine that produced static electricity. It was called the Elektrisiermaschine. The machine works by using manual power to transform mechanical work into electric energy. The machine develops electrostatic charges of opposite signs (one positive and one negative). These charges are created by two conductors.

Fifteen years later, Robert Boyle then observed electric forces of attraction and repulsion transmitted through a vacuum. Then, in 1729, Stephen Gray discovered how to conduct electricity. He noticed that the cork in one of his scientific tubes generated an attractive force on small pieces of paper when the tube was rubbed. This inspired him to run a series of experiments. This experiments helped scientists understand how conductors and insulators work.

Advancements

In 1733, Charles Francois du Fray made the next important discovery of electricity. He realized that electricity comes in two different forms. These two forms are resinous electricity and vitreous electricity. However, these names were later changed to negative electricity, and positive electricity.

In 1745, Pieter van Musschenbroek then invented the Leyden jar. The Leyden jar is a device that stores static electricity between two electrodes on the inside and the outside of a jar. This electricity in the jar can then be discharged all at once.

Then, in 1747, William Watson was able to use this Leydon jar to discharge electricity through a circuit. After this, electromagnetic induction was discovered—this helped illuminate how electric currents work.

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was the next scientist to add to the understanding of electricity. Benjamin Franklin proposed the idea that lightening was electrical. On June 15, 1752, he was able to prove this theory. He extracted sparks from a cloud, and used a kite to extract these sparks.

Although some historians have doubted whether this experiment took place, it is certain that Franklin was able to discover his theory was true. His electrical experiments resulted in his invention of the lightning rod, which protects buildings from being struck by lightning. Franklin’s advancements to electricity were noted by the scientific community, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and given a Copley Medal for his contributions.

The Light Bulb

Michael Faraday next discovered that moving a magnet inside a wire coil made electricity. He used this knowledge to build the first electrical motor. After building the electrical motor, he invented a generator, and then a transformer. Then, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, and this changed the world.

Thus, there is no one simple answer to when was electricity invented... there were many steps along the way to the exciting discovery.