George Westinghouse

Profession: Entrepreneur and Engineer

Nationality:

Biography: George Westinghouse was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer in the electrical industry. Westinghouse was one of Thomas Edison's main rivals in the early implementation of the electrical system.

Unlike Edison, Westinghouse was an advocate for alternating current (AC) over direct current (DC) for electric power transmission, believing that AC was more efficient for long-distance power transmission.

During the Civil War, Westinghouse served in the Union Army and Navy. After the war, he focused on inventions, with the air brake being his first major success. This system greatly improved the safety and efficiency of railroads, and by the late 1860s, the Westinghouse Air Brake Company was established to manufacture and sell his invention.

In the 1880s, Westinghouse became interested in the potential of electricity. He founded the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1886, which became a major competitor to Edison's electric company. The so-called "War of Currents" heated up when Westinghouse's company began installing AC systems in 1886.

In 1893, the Westinghouse company won the bid to illuminate the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago with AC power, and later to construct the first long-distance power transmission line in the United States, from Niagara Falls to Buffalo, New York.

Westinghouse's advocacy for AC was instrumental in its adoption as the standard for electricity distribution in the United States and around the world. He also held over 300 patents and was involved in the founding of around 60 companies.

Despite his success, Westinghouse's companies faced financial difficulties due to the Panic of 1907, and he lost control of Westinghouse Electric in 1909. Nevertheless, he continued to work on new inventions and projects until his health declined.

Born: October 6, 1846
Birthplace: Central Bridge, New York, USA
Star Sign: Libra

Died: March 12, 1914 (aged 67)