Alessandro Volta Timeline

(1745 - 1827)

Alessandro Volta (1745–1827) was an Italian physicist and chemist best known for inventing the voltaic pile, the first electrical battery, in 1800. His groundbreaking work in electricity laid the foundation for the field of electrochemistry, and the unit of electric potential, the volt, is named in his honor. More Less

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Honors and Recognition

Recognition as pioneer of electricity and power

1745 - 1827

Over the course of his lifetime (18 February 1745 – 5 March 1827), Alessandro Volta established himself as an Italian chemist and physicist who was a pioneer of electricity and power, credited as the inventor of the electric battery and the discoverer of methane.

Image source: Alessandro Volta

Volta becomes associated member of the Royal Institute of the Netherlands

1809

In 1809, Volta became an associated member of the Royal Institute of the Netherlands, further international recognition of his towering contributions to electrical science.

Image source: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

Volta becomes associated member of the Royal Institute of the Netherlands

Made a count by Napoleon Bonaparte

1810

In honour of his work, Volta was made a count by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to science and his international renown.

Image source: Napoleon

Early Life and Education

Birth of Alessandro Volta in Como

Feb 18, 1745

Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta was born in Como, a town in northern Italy, on 18 February 1745. He would grow up to become an Italian chemist and physicist, a pioneer of electricity and power, credited as the inventor of the electric battery and the discoverer of methane.

Journey through Switzerland and friendship with H.B. de Saussure

1777

In 1777, Volta travelled through Switzerland, where he befriended the physicist and mountaineer Horace Bénédict de Saussure, expanding his scientific network across Europe.

Image source: Horace Bénédict de Saussure

Marriage to Teresa Peregrini

1794

In 1794, Volta married an aristocratic lady also from Como, Teresa Peregrini, with whom he raised three sons: Zanino, Flaminio, and Luigi.

Raising three sons with Teresa Peregrini

1794 - 1827

With his wife Teresa Peregrini, whom he married in 1794, Volta raised three sons: Zanino, Flaminio, and Luigi, balancing family life with his demanding scientific career.

Scientific Career

Johan Wilcke describes a similar machine

1762

Although Volta is often credited with inventing the electrophorus, a machine operating on the same principle was described as early as 1762 by the Swedish experimenter Johan Wilcke. Volta's extensive promotion of the device led many to associate it with his name.

Image source: Johan Wilcke

Johan Wilcke describes a similar machine

Professor of physics at the Royal School in Como

1774

In 1774, Volta became a professor of physics at the Royal School in Como, beginning his formal academic career and establishing himself as a leading figure in the study of electricity.

Electrophorus promoted extensively by Volta

1774

Volta promoted the electrophorus so extensively that he is often credited with its invention, even though a machine operating on the same principle had been described in 1762 by Swedish experimenter Johan Wilcke.

Image source: Electrophorus electricus

Volta begins studying the chemistry of gases

1776 - 1778

Between 1776 and 1778, Volta studied the chemistry of gases, conducting research that would lead to some of his most notable scientific discoveries.

Discovery of methane at Lake Maggiore

Nov 1776

In November 1776, Volta found methane in the marshes of Angera on Lake Maggiore. This discovery established him as the discoverer of methane, a significant contribution to chemistry.

Image source: Methane

Isolation of methane

1778

By 1778, Volta managed to isolate methane, building upon his earlier discovery of the gas in the marshes of Angera on Lake Maggiore and solidifying his reputation as a pioneering chemist.

Professor of experimental physics at the University of Pavia

1779 - 1819

In 1779, Volta became a professor of experimental physics at the University of Pavia, a chair that he occupied for almost 40 years, during which he carried out much of his most important work.

Image source: University of Pavia

Nearly four decades holding the Pavia chair

1779 - 1819

Volta occupied the chair of experimental physics at the University of Pavia for almost 40 years, from 1779 until his retirement in 1819, making it the center of his long scientific career.

Invention of the voltaic pile

1799

Volta invented the voltaic pile in 1799, the first electrical battery capable of producing a steady electric current, one of the most important inventions in the history of science.

Image source: Voltaic pile

Voltaic pile announced as first steady source of electric current

1799 - 1800

The voltaic pile, invented in 1799 and publicized in 1800, was an early electric battery that produced a steady electric current for the first time, transforming the study of electricity and enabling countless subsequent discoveries.

Letter reporting experiments published by the Royal Society

1800

Volta reported the results of his experiments with the voltaic pile in a two-part letter to the president of the Royal Society in London, which was published in 1800, announcing his groundbreaking invention to the scientific world.

Image source: Royal Society

Professional disagreement over galvanic response leads to the battery

1800

In 1800, as the result of a professional disagreement over the galvanic response advocated by Galvani, Volta invented the voltaic pile, an early electric battery which produced a steady electric current, resolving the debate through experiment.

Image source: Luigi Galvani

Legacy and Commemoration

Volta's instruments preserved in University History Museum

1787

In the University History Museum in Pavia, many scientific instruments that belonged to Volta are preserved and displayed, alongside the Aula Volta lecture hall built for him in the Old Campus, safeguarding his scientific heritage.

Aula Volta commissioned at University of Pavia

1787

In the Old Campus of the University of Pavia, there is the classroom (Aula Volta) commissioned by Emperor Joseph II to architect Leopoldo Pollack in 1787 for the lectures of Alessandro Volta. The university's History Museum holds many scientific instruments that belonged to him.

Camnago renamed Camnago Volta in his honour

1827

The frazione of Camnago near Como, where Volta lived out his retirement and died, was later renamed 'Camnago Volta' in his honour, preserving the memory of his final home.

Image source: Como

Publication of Briefe über thierische Elektricität edition

1900

Briefe über thierische elektricität (Letters about animal electricity), a work connected to the debate between Galvani's animal electricity and Volta's views, was made available in a Leipzig edition (W. Engelmann) in 1900 through libraries worldwide.

Como Conference held for centenary of Volta's death

1927

In 1927, an international physics conference known as the Como Conference was held at Lake Como to mark the 100th anniversary of Volta's death, gathering leading physicists in his honour.

Image source: Como Conference

Volta depicted on Italian Lire 10,000 note

1990 - 1997

From 1990 to 1997, Volta's image was depicted on the Italian Lire 10,000 note along with a sketch of his voltaic pile, honoring him as one of Italy's greatest scientists.

Image source: Italian lira

Nvidia announces Volta GPU microarchitecture

2017

In late 2017, Nvidia announced a new workstation-focused GPU microarchitecture called Volta, named in honor of Alessandro Volta and continuing his legacy into the era of modern computing.

Image source: Volta (microarchitecture)

Electric eel species Electrophorus voltai named after Volta

2019

The electric eel species Electrophorus voltai, described in 2019 as the strongest bioelectricity producer in nature, was named after Volta, paying tribute to the inventor of the electric battery.

Later Life

Retirement to Camnago

1819

Volta retired in 1819 to his estate in Camnago, a frazione of Como, Italy, now named 'Camnago Volta' in his honour, where he spent his final years.

Onset of final illnesses

1823 - 1827

Beginning in 1823, Volta suffered from a series of illnesses that would eventually lead to his death four years later.

Death of Alessandro Volta

Mar 5, 1827

Volta died on 5 March 1827, just after his 82nd birthday, from a series of illnesses which had begun in 1823. He died at his estate in Camnago, leaving behind a legacy as one of history's great electrical pioneers.

Key Facts

Alessandro Volta was born on February 18, 1745, in Como, Italy.
In 1775, he invented the electrophorus, a device used to generate static electricity.
Volta invented the voltaic pile in 1800, the first true battery capable of producing a steady electric current.
He famously disputed Luigi Galvani's theory of 'animal electricity,' leading to major advances in understanding electricity.
The SI unit of electric potential, the volt (V), was named after him in 1881.

Source

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