Electricity was not invented by a single person but was rather discovered and understood progressively over centuries by many scientists and philosophers. Early observations of electrical phenomena trace back to ancient times, such as Thales of Miletus around 600 BC, who noticed static electricity by rubbing amber with fur. William Gilbert coined the term electricity in the early 1600s. Benjamin Franklin, in the 18th century, advanced understanding by demonstrating that lightning is a form of electricity with his famous kite experiment. Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery, Michael Faraday laid the foundations of electromagnetism, and Thomas Edison developed the practical electric light bulb and distribution systems. Nikola Tesla contributed significantly with alternating current systems. Thus, electricity is a cumulative discovery rather than a single invention attributed to one person.
