Alessandro Volta

For the concept car, see Toyota Alessandro Volta.

Count
Alessandro Volta
Born(1745-02-18)18 February 1745
Como, Duchy of Milan
Died5 March 1827(1827-03-05) (aged 82)
Como, Lombardy-Venetia, Austrian Empire
NationalityItalian
Known for
SpouseTeresa Peregrini
Children3 Sons
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics and chemistry
Articles about
Electromagnetism
Solenoid
Electrostatics
Magnetostatics
Electrodynamics
Electrical network
Magnetic circuit
Covariant formulation
Scientists

Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (/ˈvoʊltə, ˈvɒltə/, Italian: [alesˈsandro ˈvɔlta]; 18 February 1745 – 5 March 1827) was an Italian physicist and chemist who was a pioneer of electricity and power,[1][2][3] and is credited as the inventor of the electric battery and the discoverer of methane. He invented the voltaic pile in 1799, and reported the results of his experiments in a two-part letter to the president of the Royal Society,[4][5] which was published in 1800.[6] With this invention, Volta proved that electricity could be generated chemically and debunked the prevalent theory that electricity was generated solely by living beings. Volta's invention sparked a great amount of scientific excitement and led others to conduct similar experiments, which eventually led to the development of the field of electrochemistry.[5]

Volta drew admiration from Napoleon Bonaparte for his invention, and was invited to the Institute of France to demonstrate his invention to the members of the institute. Throughout his life, Volta enjoyed a certain amount of closeness with the emperor who conferred upon him numerous honours.[7] Volta held the chair of experimental physics at the University of Pavia for nearly 40 years and was widely idolised by his students.[7] Despite his professional success, Volta was inclined towards domestic life and this was more apparent in his later years when he tended to live secluded from public life and more for the sake of his family. He died in 1827 from a series of illnesses which began in 1823.[7] The SI unit of electric potential is named the volt in his honour.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference berzolari was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference edison was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ieeeghn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference royal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Volta, Alessandro (20 March 1800). Banks, Joseph (ed.). "On the Electricity excited by the mere Contact of conducting Substances of different kinds". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (in French). 90: 403–431. doi:10.1098/rstl.1800.0018.
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference munro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).