Thomson, Elihu

Thomson, Elihu

▪ American electrical engineer and inventor
born March 29, 1853, Manchester
died March 13, 1937, Swampscott, Mass., U.S.

      U.S. electrical engineer and inventor whose discoveries in the field of alternating-current (alternating current) phenomena led to the development of successful alternating-current motors. He was also a founder of the U.S. electrical industry.

      Thomson left England for Philadelphia as a child and later taught chemistry and mechanics at the Central High School there. With a fellow teacher, Edwin J. Houston, he designed an arc lighting system that attracted financial backing and led to the founding (1880) of the American Electric Company in New Britain, Conn., of which Thomson held 30 percent of the stock and was chief electrical engineer. In 1882 a group from Lynn, Mass., bought controlling interest in the company and moved it to Lynn. Thomson went to Lynn with the company, which in 1883 was renamed the Thomson–Houston Electric Company, and remained there as a consultant to the General Electric Company, which was formed in 1892 by the merger of Thomson–Houston with the Edison General Electric Company.

      In addition to his alternating-current motor, Thomson invented the high-frequency generator (1890), the high-frequency transformer, the three-coil generator, electric welding by the incandescent method, and the watt-hour meter. Thomson also did important work in radiology, improving X-ray tubes and pioneering in making stereoscopic X-ray pictures. He was the first to suggest the provision of a mixture of helium and oxygen for workers in caissons and tunnel borings to prevent caisson disease (bends). He held some 700 patents and received many awards.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Thomson,Elihu — Thom·son (tŏmʹsən), Elihu. 1853 1937. British born American electrical engineer and inventor who with Thomas Edison formed the General Electric Company (1892). His inventions include the street arc lamp. * * * …   Universalium

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  • Elihu Thomson — ca. 1880 Elihu Thomson (* 29. März 1853 in Manchester, England; † 13. März 1937 in Swampscott, Massachusetts) war ein bedeutender britisch amerikanischer Elektroingenieur, Erfinder und Unternehmer. Leben …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Thomson (entreprise) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Thomson. Logo de Thomson …   Wikipédia en Français

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  • Thomson (entreprise française) — Thomson (entreprise) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Thomson. Logo de Thomson …   Wikipédia en Français

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