Frederick Hale Holmes (1812 – 1875 [1]) was a professor of chemistry at the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art [2] and pioneer of electric lighting. [3]
In 1853 he demonstrated the ability of electro-magnetic generators to provide continuous current to power arc lighting and in 1856 patented a magneto to power an arc light for lighthouses which he demonstrated to Michael Faraday at Blackwall in 1857. [4] [5]
His experiments with alternating current arc lighting at South Foreland Lighthouse in 1857-60 [6] were the subject of a lecture by Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution. [7] One of Holmes' generators built in 1867 and used at Souter Lighthouse is displayed at the Science Museum, London. [8]
He obtained "letters patent" for the invention of "improvements in machines known under the name of magneto-electric machines" [9] and "provisional [patent] protection" for "improvements in apparatus for the production of electric light", [10] and "improvements in fog signals, suitable for lighthouses and lightships." [11]
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