William Sturgeon

William Sturgeon( b 22 May 1783 - d 4 Dec 1850 )

Location Kirby Lonsdale Church, Yorkshire
and another on a post in the nearby village where he was born, Whittington, then in North Lancs, but now in Cumbria.?

Unveiled ? IOP Branch ?

Memorial on the wall inside Kirby Lonsdale Church recording his acheivements. He constructed the 1st practical electromagnet in 1825, in 1832 invented the commutator for electric motors, in 1836 devised a moving coil galvanometer and carried out research into atmospheric charge. He founded the 'Electrical Society of London'; its Annals of Electricity was the first electrical journal in Britain. The Society became the Institution of Electrical Engieers, and in 2014 is the Institution of Engineering and Technology, IET . He died in Prestwich, Lancashire. Further detailed biography can be found at the famous son of Whittington website.

The plaque is on the garden wall at the front of Croft House on Main Street Whittington. Croft House is next door to the old School, now the location of Fred Hall & Sons, builders, and is pretty obvious as you pass down Main Street. Croft House was built in 1638 and is now the home of Lois and Colin Clarkson. The house was 145 years old when Sturgeon was born there. Colin has lots of problems with slugs in his garden. It isn't reported that Sturgeon suffered the same problem. If any visitors care to wander into the Dragons Head, further along Main Street on the opposite side, Dave Ridgway our jovial landlord will be delighted to show them a model made by apprentices at Heysham power station of the first electric motor which Sturgeon invented. Info from John Keegan email: webmaster@whittingtonvillage.fsnet.co.uk

Page last updated 12 July 2014