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Undid revision 983477733 by 188.129.135.158 (talk) cited source (ODNB) says he enlisted in the Westmorland militia, for 2 years, in 1802. If you have alternative evidence, please cite it.
Undid revision 1212859555 by 71.232.210.19 (talk) rvv
 
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{{short description|British inventor}}
{{Short description|British physicist and inventor (1783–1850)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
|name = William Sturgeon
| name = William Sturgeon
|image = William Sturgeon.jpg
| image = William Sturgeon.jpg
|image_size = 150px
| image_size = 150px
|caption = William Sturgeon
| caption = William Sturgeon
|birth_date = 22 May 1783
| birth_date = 22 May 1783
|birth_place = [[Whittington, Lancashire]]
| birth_place = [[Whittington, Lancashire]]
|death_date = {{dda|1850|12|4|1783|5|22|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1850|12|4|1783|5|22|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Prestwich]], [[Lancashire]]
| death_place = [[Prestwich]], Lancashire
|residence =
| residence =
|citizenship =
| citizenship =
|nationality = [[England|English]]
| nationality = [[English people|English]]
|ethnicity =
| ethnicity =
|field = [[physics]]
| field = [[Physics]]
|work_institutions = electromagnets
| work_institutions = Electromagnets
|alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
|doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
| doctoral_students =
|known_for = electromagnet and electro motor
| known_for = Electromagnet and electric motor
|author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_bot =
|author_abbrev_zoo =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
|influences = [[Charles Grafton Page]]
| prizes =
|influenced = Charles Grafton Page
| religion =
|prizes =
| footnotes =
|religion =
| signature =
|footnotes =
|signature =
}}
}}
[[File:Sturgeon electromagnet.png|thumb|right|The first artificial electromagnet, invented by Sturgeon in 1824. Sturgeon`s original drawing from his 1824 paper to the ''British Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce''. The magnet was made of 18 turns of bare copper wire (insulated wire had not yet been invented).<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Sylvanus P. |year=1891 |title=Lectures on the Electromagnet |url=https://archive.org/details/lecturesonelect00thomgoog |publisher=W. J. Johnson Co. |location=New York |pages=17-19 }}</ref>]]
[[File:Sturgeon electromagnet.png|thumb|right|The first artificial electromagnet, invented by Sturgeon in 1824. Sturgeon's original drawing from his 1824 paper to the ''British Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce''. The magnet was made of 18 turns of bare copper wire (insulated wire had not yet been invented).<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Sylvanus P. |year=1891 |title=Lectures on the Electromagnet |url=https://archive.org/details/lecturesonelect00thomgoog |publisher=W. J. Johnson Co. |location=New York |pages=17–19 }}</ref>]]


'''William Sturgeon''' (22 May 1783 – 4 December 1850) was an [[England|English]] [[Physics|physicist]] and [[inventor]] who made the first [[electromagnet]]s, and invented the first practical English [[electric motor]].
'''William Sturgeon''' (22 May 1783 – 4 December 1850) was an [[England|English]] [[physicist]] and [[inventor]] who made the first [[electromagnet]]s, and invented the first practical [[electric motor]].


==Early life ==
==Early life ==
Sturgeon was born on 22 May 1783 in [[Whittington, Lancashire|Whittington]], near [[Carnforth]], [[Lancashire]], and became apprenticed to a shoemaker.
Sturgeon was born on 22 May 1783 in [[Whittington, Lancashire|Whittington]], near [[Carnforth]], [[Lancashire]], and became apprenticed to a shoemaker.


==Career==
==Career==
Sturgeon joined the army in 1802 and taught himself [[mathematics]] and [[physics]]. In 1824 he became Lecturer in Science and Philosophy at the [[East India Company]]'s [[Addiscombe Military Seminary|Military Seminary at Addiscombe]], Surrey, and in the following year he exhibited his first electromagnet.<ref name="ODNB">Gee 2004.</ref> He displayed its power by lifting nine pounds with a seven-ounce piece of iron wrapped with wire through which a current from a single battery was sent.
Sturgeon joined the army in 1802 and taught himself [[mathematics]] and [[physics]]. In 1824 he became lecturer in Science and Philosophy at the [[East India Company]]'s [[Addiscombe Military Seminary|Military Seminary at Addiscombe]], Surrey, and in the following year he exhibited his first electromagnet.<ref name="ODNB">Gee 2004.</ref> He displayed its power by lifting nine pounds with a seven-ounce piece of iron wrapped with wire through which a current from a single battery was sent.


In 1832 he was appointed to the lecturing staff of the Adelaide Gallery of Practical Science in [[London]], where he first demonstrated the [[DC electric motor]] incorporating a commutator.
In 1832 he was appointed to the lecturing staff of the Adelaide Gallery of Practical Science in [[London]], where he first demonstrated the [[DC electric motor]] incorporating a commutator.
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Sturgeon was a close associate of [[John Peter Gassiot]] and [[Charles Vincent Walker]], and the three were instrumental in founding the [[London Electrical Society]] in 1837.<ref>{{ODNBweb |first=W. J. |last=Harrison |first2=Frank Iwan Rhys (revised) |last2=Morus |title=Gassiot, John Peter (1797–1877) |year=2004 |edition=online |id=10439 }}</ref>
Sturgeon was a close associate of [[John Peter Gassiot]] and [[Charles Vincent Walker]], and the three were instrumental in founding the [[London Electrical Society]] in 1837.<ref>{{ODNBweb |first=W. J. |last=Harrison |first2=Frank Iwan Rhys (revised) |last2=Morus |title=Gassiot, John Peter (1797–1877) |year=2004 |edition=online |id=10439 }}</ref>


In 1840 he became superintendent of the [[Royal Victoria Gallery of Practical Science]] in [[Manchester]]. He formed a close social circle with [[John Davies (lecturer)|John Davies]], one of the Gallery's promoters, and Davies's student [[James Prescott Joule]], a circle that eventually extended to include [[Edward William Binney]] and the surgeon [[John Leigh (doctor)|John Leigh]].<ref>Kargon 1977, pp. 38-40.</ref> The Gallery closed in 1842, and he earned a living by lecturing and demonstrating.
In 1840 he became superintendent of the [[Royal Victoria Gallery of Practical Science]] in [[Manchester]]. He formed a close social circle with [[John Davies (lecturer)|John Davies]], one of the Gallery's promoters, and Davies's student [[James Prescott Joule]], a circle that eventually extended to include [[Edward William Binney]] and the surgeon [[John Leigh (doctor)|John Leigh]].<ref>Kargon 1977, pp. 38–40.</ref> The Gallery closed in 1842, and he earned a living by lecturing and demonstrating.


In 1843 he started the monthly journal, ''The Annals of Philosophical Discovery and Monthly Reporter of the Progress of Practical Science''; issue 1 of volume 1 is dated July 1843. Each month's issue contains a mixture of original "long" papers (over 5 pages long), republished papers from foreign journals (translated where necessary) and shorter articles. However, the journal did not prove successful, and ceased publication at the end of volume 1, in December 1843. This single volume is archived at Internet.org.<ref>The Annals of Philosophical Discovery and Monthly Reporter of the Progress of Practical Science, Volume 1, (1843). https://archive.org/details/annalsofphilosop1843stur</ref>
In 1843 he started the monthly journal, ''The Annals of Philosophical Discovery and Monthly Reporter of the Progress of Practical Science''; issue 1 of volume 1 is dated July 1843. Each month's issue contains a mixture of original "long" papers (over 5 pages long), republished papers from foreign journals (translated where necessary) and shorter articles. However, the journal did not prove successful, and ceased publication at the end of volume 1, in December 1843. This single volume is archived at Internet.org.<ref>The Annals of Philosophical Discovery and Monthly Reporter of the Progress of Practical Science, Volume 1, (1843). https://archive.org/details/annalsofphilosop1843stur</ref>


==Death and burial==
==Death and burial==
Sturgeon died in [[Prestwich]] in [[Greater Manchester]] on 4 December 1850.<ref name="ODNB"/> He is buried there, in the churchyard of the [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich|St Mary the Virgin]]: he is identified on his grave slab as "William Sturgeon – The Electrician".
Sturgeon died in [[Prestwich]], [[Lancashire]] (now in [[Greater Manchester]]) on 4 December 1850.<ref name="ODNB"/> He is buried there, in the churchyard of the [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich|St Mary the Virgin]]: he is identified on his grave slab as "William Sturgeon – The Electrician".


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 00:34, 10 March 2024

William Sturgeon
William Sturgeon
Born22 May 1783
Whittington, Lancashire
Died4 December 1850(1850-12-04) (aged 67)
Prestwich, Lancashire
NationalityEnglish
Known forElectromagnet and electric motor
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsElectromagnets
The first artificial electromagnet, invented by Sturgeon in 1824. Sturgeon's original drawing from his 1824 paper to the British Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. The magnet was made of 18 turns of bare copper wire (insulated wire had not yet been invented).[1]

William Sturgeon (22 May 1783 – 4 December 1850) was an English physicist and inventor who made the first electromagnets, and invented the first practical electric motor.

Early life

[edit]

Sturgeon was born on 22 May 1783 in Whittington, near Carnforth, Lancashire, and became apprenticed to a shoemaker.

Career

[edit]

Sturgeon joined the army in 1802 and taught himself mathematics and physics. In 1824 he became lecturer in Science and Philosophy at the East India Company's Military Seminary at Addiscombe, Surrey, and in the following year he exhibited his first electromagnet.[2] He displayed its power by lifting nine pounds with a seven-ounce piece of iron wrapped with wire through which a current from a single battery was sent.

In 1832 he was appointed to the lecturing staff of the Adelaide Gallery of Practical Science in London, where he first demonstrated the DC electric motor incorporating a commutator.

In 1836 he established the journal Annals of Electricity, Magnetism and Chemistry, and in the same year he invented a galvanometer.[2]

Sturgeon was a close associate of John Peter Gassiot and Charles Vincent Walker, and the three were instrumental in founding the London Electrical Society in 1837.[3]

In 1840 he became superintendent of the Royal Victoria Gallery of Practical Science in Manchester. He formed a close social circle with John Davies, one of the Gallery's promoters, and Davies's student James Prescott Joule, a circle that eventually extended to include Edward William Binney and the surgeon John Leigh.[4] The Gallery closed in 1842, and he earned a living by lecturing and demonstrating.

In 1843 he started the monthly journal, The Annals of Philosophical Discovery and Monthly Reporter of the Progress of Practical Science; issue 1 of volume 1 is dated July 1843. Each month's issue contains a mixture of original "long" papers (over 5 pages long), republished papers from foreign journals (translated where necessary) and shorter articles. However, the journal did not prove successful, and ceased publication at the end of volume 1, in December 1843. This single volume is archived at Internet.org.[5]

Death and burial

[edit]

Sturgeon died in Prestwich, Lancashire (now in Greater Manchester) on 4 December 1850.[2] He is buried there, in the churchyard of the St Mary the Virgin: he is identified on his grave slab as "William Sturgeon – The Electrician".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thompson, Sylvanus P. (1891). Lectures on the Electromagnet. New York: W. J. Johnson Co. pp. 17–19.
  2. ^ a b c Gee 2004.
  3. ^ Harrison, W. J.; Morus, Frank Iwan Rhys (revised) (2004). "Gassiot, John Peter (1797–1877)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10439. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ Kargon 1977, pp. 38–40.
  5. ^ The Annals of Philosophical Discovery and Monthly Reporter of the Progress of Practical Science, Volume 1, (1843). https://archive.org/details/annalsofphilosop1843stur

Bibliography

[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to William Sturgeon.
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