Peter Cooper Hewitt
American engineer
Peter Cooper Hewitt Rank
About Peter Cooper Hewitt
The work of German scientist Julius Plücher and glassblower Heinrich Geissler from the middle of the 19th century was improved upon by electrical inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt. Plücker and Geissler discovered they could produce light by running an electric current through a glass tube holding minute quantities of gas. While the glowing Geissler Tubes were a scientific marvel, the seals eventually leaked and allowed too much air to sustain the spectacle. Hewitt perfected the phenomenon and invented the first mercury-vapor lamp in 1901.
Early Life
The engineer was born to Abram Hewitt and Sarah Amelia Hewitt. He enrolled and graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology and the Columbia University School of Mines.
Career
Some innovators tried the idea of creating light through electrical discharges while Edison and others grappled with incandescent filaments. Hewitt started working on mercury-filled tubes in the late 1890s but discovered that the light they produced had an unattractive bluish-green color. However, the amount of light was remarkable. Hewitt focused on creating a product for other uses after realizing that few people would want his lighting in their homes. He then concentrated on industrial services for his lamps. After selling to numerous photo studios, he founded his own company in 1902. The company was later bought by General Electric in 1919 and started mass production in 1933.
Personal Life
Hewitt was married to Lucy Bond Work but divorced in 1918 to marry Jeanne Andrews.
Peter Cooper Hewitt Rank
F.A.Q. about Peter Cooper Hewitt
When is his birthday?
Peter Cooper Hewitt's birthday is on May 5, 1861.
In how many days is his birthday?
Peter's birthday is in 10 days
How old was Peter when he died?
He was 60 years old.
When did he die?
He died in August 25, 1921.
How old would he be today?
Peter Cooper Hewitt would be 162 years old if he was alive today.
Where was Peter from?
He was born in New York City, New York, U.S..