Happy Birthday Werner von Siemens!

On this day,  December 13th, in 1816 Werner von Siemens was born in Lenthe Germany. He was the fourth of fourteen children of a tenet farmer. He was never able to finish school and in order to pursue an education in engineering he joined the Prussian army. Here he was able to have 3 years of artillery and engineering training.

The army was in need of a quick and reliable means of communication. In 1947, von Siemens constructed a pointer telegraph, which used a needle to point to letters as opposed to Morse code. This began Siemens and Halske Telegraph Construction Company. The small workshop grew larger over time developing electrically triggered railroad warning bells, water meters, and seamless insulation. The company was later responsible for laying submarine telegraph as well as establishing telegraph systems in England and Russia.  The company continues today as Siemens.

Werner von Siemens’ scientific research included discovering the dynamo-electric principle, which led to electricity being  a source of power. Other patents developed include the first electric railway, first electric street lights, first electric elevator, and the first electric streetcar.

Today, Werner von Siemens is known for being the namesake of the SI (siemens) unit of electrical conductance. He also coined the German word for electrical engineering: elecktrotechnik. Today, the company that von Siemens founded is known as a leader in energy, healthcare, industry, and infrastructure.

Happy birthday Werner!