Cornelius Herz facts for kids
Cornelius Herz was born in Besançon, France, on September 3, 1845. He passed away in Bournemouth, England, on July 6, 1898. He was a French-American doctor, an expert in electricity, and a successful businessman. He was also well-known in French politics.
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Early Life and Education
Cornelius Herz's parents, Adelaide and Leopold Herz, were from Germany. They moved from Hesse to the United States in 1848. They settled in New York. By 1853, the family became American citizens in New York City.
Cornelius started college at the College of the City of New York in 1858. In 1861, he was a lieutenant in the United States army. He graduated with honors in 1864. After college, he studied at the Universities of Heidelberg and Paris.
He then joined the School of Medicine in Paris. When the Franco-Prussian War began in 1870, he became a surgeon-major in the French army. He was recognized for his excellent service. In January 1871, he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour. Later that year, he became a medical officer at a hospital in Berck-sur-Mer.
Return to America and Family Life
In the fall of 1871, Cornelius returned to America. He arrived in Chicago, where his parents lived. He saw the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire. He was asked to help with medical and health efforts during the city's rebuilding.
In 1872, he became the Chief Medical Officer at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. In 1873, he married Bianca Saroni in Boston. The next year, they moved to San Francisco. There, he became a member of the Board of Health.
In San Francisco, he focused on nervous illnesses. He also became very interested in using electricity for practical things. He started a company called California Electrical Works. In September 1877, he signed an agreement with famous inventor Thomas Edison about patents for electrical systems in Europe.
Innovations in Electricity
In 1877, Cornelius and Bianca Herz moved back to Paris with their two young daughters, Irma and Edna. Their son, Ralph, was born there. Ralph later became a famous stage actor. They also had three more daughters: Olga, Sybil, and Adelaide.
In Paris, Cornelius became a leader in expanding the use of electricity. He set up the Electric-Force Transmission Company. He also started and edited the first scientific magazines about electricity, called La Lumiere Electrique and Journal d’Electricite`.
He worked with major banks in Paris to create companies for electric lighting and telephone services across Europe. He also partnered with important groups like the Rothschilds and the Northern Railway of France. Together, they formed companies for building electrical machines, cables, and even special guns. They also worked on applying electric light to railway trains and making telephone equipment.
Cornelius Herz was the main founder of a huge project to connect all 36,000 towns in France. This project aimed to provide non-stop telephone and telegraph service. It would connect even the smallest villages at a very low cost.
Honors and Recognition
In 1878, the French Government made him an Officer of the Legion of Honour. In 1881, President Garfield appointed Dr. Herz as an official representative for the United States. He attended the International Congress of Electricians in Paris. That same year, he was promoted to Commander of the Legion of Honour.
In 1879, he created the Paris Electric-Light Company. In 1880, he invented a telephone system. This system made voices clearer over long distances. In 1883, Dr. Herz and Alphonse de Rothschild founded the American Syndicate of Electricity. This group later joined with the Westinghouse Syndicate. In 1886, he became a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Cornelius Herz spent most of his life working on big projects and scientific advancements. Many scientists, governments, and important people admired his efforts. He received high honors from other countries too. He was made Commander of the Holy Order of St. Michael in Bavaria. King Umberto I of Italy made him Grand Cross of the Order of St. Maurice and Lazare. He became a very important figure in French public life.
Burial Place
Cornelius Herz and his father, Leopold, were buried at Willesden Jewish Cemetery in London. Leopold was buried on August 24, 1896. Cornelius was buried on July 11, 1898.
