Volta Prize
Encyclopedia
The Volta Prize was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801–1802 to honor Alessandro Volta
, an Italian physicist noted for developing the battery
. At that time Alessandro Volta was summoned to Paris to demonstrate his great discovery before the French Academy of Sciences
. Bonaparte declared his presentation a triumph, awarded him a gold medal and conceived of the Volta Prize named in his honor. The French government awards the Volta Prize for scientific achievement in electricity
.
Notable recipients of the Volta Grand Prize have included Sir Humphry Davy
, Heinrich Ruhmkorff (1864), who commercialised the induction coil
, and Zénobe Gramme
, inventor of the Gramme dynamo and the first practical electric motor
used in industry.
One of its most notable awards was made in 1880, when Alexander Graham Bell
received the third Grand Volta Prize with its purse of 50,000 francs (approximately US$10,000 at that time, about $ in current dollars) for the invention of the telephone
from L’Académie française
, representing the French government. Among the luminaries who judged were Victor Hugo
and Alexandre Dumas
. Since Bell was himself becoming more affluent, he used the prize money to create institutions in and around the United States
capital of Washington, D.C.
, including the prestigious Volta Laboratory Association (in 1880, also known as the 'Volta Laboratory' and as the 'Alexander Graham Bell Laboratory'), with his endowment fund (the 'Volta Fund'), and then in 1887 the 'Volta Bureau', which later became the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
.
Alessandro Volta
Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta was a Lombard physicist known especially for the invention of the battery in 1800.-Early life and works:...
, an Italian physicist noted for developing the battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
. At that time Alessandro Volta was summoned to Paris to demonstrate his great discovery before the French Academy of Sciences
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
. Bonaparte declared his presentation a triumph, awarded him a gold medal and conceived of the Volta Prize named in his honor. The French government awards the Volta Prize for scientific achievement in electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
.
Notable recipients of the Volta Grand Prize have included Sir Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy
Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet FRS MRIA was a British chemist and inventor. He is probably best remembered today for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine...
, Heinrich Ruhmkorff (1864), who commercialised the induction coil
Induction coil
An induction coil or "spark coil" is a type of disruptive discharge coil. It is a type of electrical transformer used to produce high-voltage pulses from a low-voltage direct current supply...
, and Zénobe Gramme
Zénobe Gramme
Zénobe Théophile Gramme was a Belgian electrical engineer. He invented the Gramme machine, a type of direct current dynamo capable of generating smoother and much higher voltages than the dynamos known to that point.In 1873 he and Hippolyte Fontaine accidentally discovered that the device was...
, inventor of the Gramme dynamo and the first practical electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
used in industry.
One of its most notable awards was made in 1880, when Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
received the third Grand Volta Prize with its purse of 50,000 francs (approximately US$10,000 at that time, about $ in current dollars) for the invention of the telephone
Invention of the telephone
The invention of the telephone is the culmination of work done by many individuals, the history of which involves a collection of claims and counterclaims. The development of the modern telephone involved an array of lawsuits founded upon the patent claims of several individuals...
from L’Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, representing the French government. Among the luminaries who judged were Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
and Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Dumas, fils
Alexandre Dumas, fils was a French author and dramatist. He was the son of Alexandre Dumas, père, also a writer and playwright.-Biography:...
. Since Bell was himself becoming more affluent, he used the prize money to create institutions in and around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
capital of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, including the prestigious Volta Laboratory Association (in 1880, also known as the 'Volta Laboratory' and as the 'Alexander Graham Bell Laboratory'), with his endowment fund (the 'Volta Fund'), and then in 1887 the 'Volta Bureau', which later became the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, also known as AG Bell, is a resource, support network and advocate for listening, learning, talking and living independently with hearing loss...
.
See also
- Alessandro VoltaAlessandro VoltaCount Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta was a Lombard physicist known especially for the invention of the battery in 1800.-Early life and works:...
- Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
- Alexander Graham Bell honors and tributesAlexander Graham Bell honors and tributesthumb|275px|Alexander Graham Bell c.1918–1919Alexander Graham Bell honours and tributes include honours bestowed upon him and awards named for him....
- Volta Laboratory and Bureau