Werner von Siemens Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Werner von Siemens

Born	Ernst Werner Siemens (1816-12-13)13 December 1816 Lenthe, Kingdom of Hanover, German Confederation
Died	6 December 1892(1892-12-06) (aged 75) Berlin, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Known for	Founder of the Siemens AG
Awards	Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts (1886)
Scientific career
Fields	Electrical engineer, inventor

Werner von Siemens (born Ernst Werner Siemens) was a German electrical engineer, inventor, and businessman. He was born on December 13, 1816, and passed away on December 6, 1892.

He is famous for founding the large electrical and telecommunications company, Siemens. His last name, "siemens," was even chosen as the official unit for measuring how well electricity can flow through something.

Biography of an Inventor
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Biography of an Inventor

Early Life and Education

Ernst Werner Siemens was born in Lenthe, a small town near Hanover in Germany. He was the fourth of fourteen children in his family. His family had a long history, going back to 1384.

When he finished school, Werner wanted to study architecture. However, his family did not have enough money for him to go to university. So, he decided to join the Prussian Military Academy instead. From 1835 to 1838, he trained to be an officer in the artillery and engineering school.

Werner was a very good soldier. He earned several medals for his work. He also helped invent electrically-charged underwater explosives, which were used to protect the city of Kiel from a Danish blockade.

Starting His Company

After his time in the military, Werner focused on making existing technologies better. He became known around the world for his improvements in many areas. In 1843, he sold the rights to one of his first inventions.

Werner invented a new type of telegraph. This machine used a needle to point to the correct letter, which was different from using Morse code. Based on this invention, he started his own company. He called it Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske. The company officially began on October 1, 1847, and opened its first workshop on October 12.

His company quickly became international. Werner's brother, Sir William Siemens, represented the company in England. Another brother, Carl von Siemens, worked in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Both brothers helped the company grow and became well-known.

In 1888, Werner was given a special honor and became "Werner von Siemens." He retired from his company in 1890 and passed away in Berlin in 1892.

Siemens Company Today

The company Werner founded, now known as Siemens AG, became one of the biggest electrical and technology companies in the world. After Werner, his brother Carl, his sons, grandsons, and even a great-grandson led the company. The Siemens family still owns a small part of the company today and has a seat on its main board.

Amazing Inventions and Contributions

Besides his pointer telegraph, Werner von Siemens made many important contributions to the field of electrical engineering. Many people consider him the "founding father" of electrical engineering in Germany.

Here are some of his notable achievements:

In 1880, he built the world's first electric elevator.
His company made the special tubes that Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen used to discover X-rays.
He also worked on the dynamo, a machine that creates electricity. While others had invented it earlier, he made important improvements.
In 1877, he received a German patent for an electromechanical "dynamic" or moving-coil device. This invention was later used to create the loudspeaker in the 1920s.
In May 1881, Siemens & Halske opened the world's first electric tram service. This was in the Berlin suburb of Groß-Lichterfelde.
Werner von Siemens is also known as the father of the trolleybus. He first tested his "Elektromote" on April 29, 1882. This was a vehicle that got its power from overhead electric lines.

Family Life

Werner von Siemens was married twice. His first wife was Mathilde Drumann, whom he married in 1852. After she passed away in 1867, he married his relative Antonie Siemens in 1869.

He had children from both marriages. His sons Arnold von Siemens and Georg Wilhelm von Siemens were from his first marriage. His children from his second marriage were Hertha von Siemens and Carl Friedrich von Siemens.

Remembering Werner von Siemens

Werner von Siemens' picture was featured on the 20 Reichsmark banknote in Germany from 1929 to 1939. This banknote was used until 1948.

In 1923, a German botanist named Ignatz Urban named a new type of flowering plant after Werner von Siemens. The plant, called Siemensia, is found in Cuba.

Werner von Siemens facts for kids

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