Electricity was not invented by a single person but discovered and developed over many centuries by multiple individuals. The concept and study of electricity evolved through the contributions of several key figures:
- Around 600 BC, Thales of Miletus observed static electricity by rubbing amber.
- In the 16th century, William Gilbert coined the term "electricity" from the Greek word "elektron" for amber and was the first to study electric and magnetic forces systematically.
- Benjamin Franklin, in the 18th century, conducted his famous kite experiment proving that lightning is a form of electricity.
- Alessandro Volta invented the battery in the early 19th century, enabling continuous electric current.
- Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction and created an electric motor and generator.
- James Clerk Maxwell formulated the classical electromagnetic theory.
- Thomas Edison developed the incandescent light bulb and a practical electrical distribution system in the late 19th century.
- Nikola Tesla advanced the alternating current (AC) electrical system, crucial for modern electricity transmission.
Thus, electricity as an understood phenomenon and practical power source is the result of many discoveries and inventions over centuries, rather than a single act of invention by one person.
