Brush, Charles Francis
Charles Francis Brush (1849-1929) was a founding figure in the American electrical industry. By the time he was in high school, Brush had already begun building electrical devices, telescopes, and microscopes. In 1878, Brush introduced the first practical illuminating arc light, a lamp that produces light when electric current flows across the gap between two electrodes. He also invented a highly efficient electric DC dynamo, the first electrical generator capable of delivering power for large-scale use. The first Brush lights used for street illumination were erected in 1879 in Cleveland, Ohio, and soon the use of arc lights became nearly universal. His company, Brush Electric in Cleveland, Ohio, was sold in 1889. In 1892 it was merged with Edison General Electric Company under the name General Electric Company (GE), now one of he world’s largest energy corporations. In 1877, Brush built what is believed to be the first automatically-operating wind turbine for electricity generation. The turbine ran for 20 years and charged batteries in the cellar of Brush’s mansion.
Further Reading
Brief Biographical Sketch of Charles F. Brush (Case Western Reserve University)
Biographies: Charles F. Brush, 1849 - 1929 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.)
