Edward Weston (chemist)
English-born American chemist and engineer, inventor of the Weston cell.
Edward Weston (May 9, 1850 – August 20, 1936) was a chemist and engineer born in England who later became an American citizen. He is recognized for his work in electroplating and for creating the electrochemical cell that bears his name, the Weston cell, which became a standard for measuring voltage. In the early days of electricity generation and distribution, he was a rival of Thomas Edison.
Weston was born into a merchant family in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. He initially studied medicine but shifted his focus to chemistry. After leaving medical studies, he moved to the United States in 1870 and took a job in the electroplating industry. Recognizing the need for a steady current source, he turned his attention to power generation and created several dynamos and generators. He co-founded the Weston Electric Light Company in Newark, New Jersey, and later his company was absorbed by the United States Electric Lighting Company, which won the contract to light the Brooklyn Bridge. When that company absorbed his firm in 1882, he served as its chief electrician for six years before leaving to pursue his own research.
He was a founding member of the board of trustees of what eventually became the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Some of his inventions, instruments, and writings are preserved at the university’s library and the Weston Museum. He served as president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers from 1888 to 1889. Weston developed two alloys, constantan and manganin, and created measuring instruments for electric current that form the basis for modern voltmeters, ammeters, and wattmeters. In 1888, he founded the Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation, which became known for producing voltmeters, ammeters, wattmeters, ohmmeters, frequency meters, transformers, and transducers. He also devised a method for making a true permanent magnet, built a magnetic speedometer, and developed the dashboard ammeter for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
In 1893, Weston invented and patented the saturated cadmium cell. Its cathode is a cadmium-mercury amalgam, its anode is pure mercury, and its electrolyte is a cadmium sulphate solution. This wet-chemical cell produces a highly stable voltage, making it a laboratory standard for calibrating voltmeters. Later, an unsaturated design reduced the temperature coefficient, and that version remains the most commo
- born
- May 9, 1850, Oswestry, Shropshire, England
- died
- August 20, 1936, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
- field
- Chemistry, engineering
- nationality
- English-born American
- known_for
- Weston cell, electroplating, electrical measurement instruments
Quick Facts
- Known For
- Weston cell / Preparation of Constantan and Manganin
- Birth Date
- May 9, 1850
- Birth Place
- Oswestry, Shropshire, England
- Death Date
- August 20, 1936 · May 9, 1850
- Death Place
- Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
- Occupation
- Chemist / Electrical engineer / Inventor / Business Owner
- Awards
- Elliott Cresson Medal / (1910) · Perkin Medal (1915) / Franklin Medal / (1924) · 5th Lamme Medal
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Edward Weston was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, in 1850 to a merchant family. He originally studied medicine but soon became interested in chemistry. After leaving his medical studies, he emigrated to the United States in 1870, where he found a job in the electroplating industry. Realizing the need for a constant source of current, he developed an interest in power generation and invented several dynamos and generators. He eventually co-founded the Weston Electric Light Company in Newark, New Jersey. The contract to illuminate the Brooklyn Bridge was awarded to the United States Electric Lighting Company, which absorbed his firm. When in 1882 it was absorbed by the United States Electric Lighting Company, he became its chief electrician for six years before resigning to conduct his own research.
Weston developed two alloys, constantan and mangan
Reader's Guide
Edward Weston's significance lies primarily in his development of the Weston cell, which became the International Standard for electromotive force in 1911. By waiving his patent rights, he ensured its widespread adoption as a laboratory standard for calibrating voltmeters, a role it continues to serve in refined form. His work in electroplating and power generation placed him as a competitor to Thomas Edison in the early days of electricity distribution. Weston's inventions of measurement instruments—including the voltmeter, ammeter, and wattmeter—provided the modern foundation for electrical measurement. His founding of the Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation led to the production of a wide range of instruments that became industry standards. Additionally, his development of alloys such as constantan and manganin, and his creation of a true permanent magnet, contributed to advances in electrical engineering. His legacy is preserved through the university library and museum at what became the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where some of his inventions, instruments, and writings are maintained.
Did You Know?
- Weston originally studied medicine before turning to chemistry and emigrating to the United States in 1870.
- He won the contract to illuminate the Brooklyn Bridge through his co-founded Weston Electric Light Company.
- Weston developed the dashboard ammeter for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
- When the Weston cell became the International Standard for EMF in 1911, Weston waived his patent rights.
More in Battery inventors 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record