Gaston Planté

Lore & Background

Gaston Planté was born on 22 April 1834 in Orthez, France. In 1854 he began work as an assistant lecturer in physics at the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in Paris. In 1860 he was promoted to Professor of Physics at the Polytechnic Association for the Development of Popular Instruction. An amphitheatre named after Planté is located at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris, not at the Polytechnic Association.

In 1855, while serving as a teaching assistant to A. E. Becquerel, Planté discovered the first fossils of the prehistoric flightless bird Gastornis parisiensis near Paris. This discovery created considerable excitement but was soon overshadowed by his later work. In 1859 he invented the lead-acid cell, consisting of a spiral roll of two sheets of pure lead separated by linen cloth, immersed in a glass jar of sulfuric acid solution. The following year he presented a nine-cell lead-acid battery to the Academy of Sciences.

Planté also investigated static versus dynamic electricity, inventing the Rheostatic Machine, a mechanical device using mica capacitors and a rotating commutator to multiply voltage. With it, he explored electrical breakdown of air, Lichtenberg figures, and the behavior of thin wires under high electric currents.

Reader's Guide

Gaston Planté's invention of the lead–acid battery in 1859 marked a pivotal moment in electrical history, as it was the first rechargeable battery to reach commercial markets. This technology remains widely used in automobiles today, demonstrating its enduring significance. Planté's early discovery of the fossil bird Gastornis parisiensis, though notable, was eclipsed by his battery work. His later investigations into high-voltage phenomena via the Rheostatic Machine contributed to understanding electrical discharge. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences established the Gaston Planté Medal in 1989, awarded periodically for advances in lead-acid battery technology, cementing his legacy in the field.

Did You Know?

• Planté discovered the first fossils of the prehistoric flightless bird Gastornis parisiensis in 1855.
• His early lead-acid battery model used a spiral roll of two sheets of pure lead separated by linen cloth.
• He invented the Rheostatic Machine, a mechanical predecessor of the modern Marx generator.
• The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences established the Gaston Planté Medal in 1989.