Greek mathematician Thales of Miletus discovered that a piece of yellow amber, when rubbed against his tunic, could lift small objects. His description of the phenomenon points to the first obvious effects of static electricity. We can trace the origin of the word "electricity" to his observations. Indeed, the Greek word for yellow amber is elektron. However, this discovery remained dormant for nearly 2,000 years.

Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang realized that magnetite (lodestone), a natural magnet, aligned itself with the north and south poles when suspended from a string. He used his invention to lead his army in the right direction over long distances. The general's discovery led to the creation of the first compass.

American politician and inventor Benjamin Franklin referred for the first time to electricity's positive and negative charges. A few years later, in 1752, he conducted his famous experiment with a kite during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning is of electric origin. Shortly thereafter, Franklin invented the lightning rod to protect buildings from the devastating effects of lightning.

Italian physicist Alessandro Volta invented the first battery. His device demonstrated that when certain metals come into contact with certain chemicals, an electric current is generated. For the first time, electricity was described as being "in motion."

British physicist and chemist Michael Faraday discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. He generated an electric current by moving a magnet back and forth inside a coil of metal wire. The discovery snowballed as the fledgling electricity sector rushed to apply Faraday's novel ideas to the manufacturing requirements of the industrial age. For example, the first electric generator, predecessor of today's turbine-generator units, is based on Faraday's principles. Moreover, Faraday's experiments allowed other researchers to develop useful inventions, such as the first electric motor and the first transformer, an essential device for the transmission of electricity.