Peter Cooper Hewitt

Peter Cooper Hewitt
Peter Cooper Hewitt holding his mercury vapor rectifier
Born(1861-05-05)May 5, 1861
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 25, 1921(1921-08-25) (aged 60)
Paris, France
Burial placeGreen-Wood Cemetery,
Brooklyn, New York
NationalityAmerican
Alma materStevens Institute of Technology
Columbia University
Known forArc discharge lamp, mercury-arc valve
AwardsElliott Cresson Medal (1910)
Signature

Peter Cooper Hewitt (May 5, 1861 – August 25, 1921) was an American electrical engineer and inventor, who invented the first mercury-vapor lamp in 1901.[1] Hewitt was issued U.S. patent 682,692 on September 17, 1901.[2] In 1903, Hewitt created an improved version that possessed higher color qualities which eventually found widespread industrial use.[1]

  1. ^ a b "Peter Cooper Hewitt". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  2. ^ "Method of Manufacturing Electric Lamps". United States Patent and Trademark Office.