1745-1827

Italian Physicist

It is a mark of Alessandro Volta's influence on the world of science that the international unit of electrical potential difference or force is named the volt in his honor. His development of the first battery in 1800, along with his other experiments involving electrical current, made Volta a lasting name; however, he also conducted important studies with chemicals and gases.

Volta was born on February 18, 1745, in the town of Como in Italy's Lombardy region. He was one of nine children, and most of the others went on to pursue careers in the church, but after reading an essay by Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) at age 14, Volta decided to become a physicist.

By 1774, the 29-year-old Volta had been appointed professor of physics at the high school in Como. While working in this position, he developed his electrophorus, an early type of condenser for...