This Day in Science History - August 6 - Current Wars and the Electric Chair

On August 6, 1890, murderer William Kemmler was executed by a new invention, the electric chair. The electric chair was designed by Harold Brown while employed by Thomas Edison. Edison was currently waging a business war against Westinghouse over how electrical power would be supplied to customers. Edison owned many patents that relied on direct current (DC) as the method to transmit power. Westinghouse owned many of Nikola Tesla's patents that relied on alternating current (AC). Both sides tried to convince the public and governments their way was the more effective, economical, and safer way to use household electricity. This "battle" became known as the War of Currents.

Edison was no stranger to showmanship and public relations. He would constantly tout AC as the dangerous and deadly current. Brown publicly electrocuted stray dogs and showing how 1,000 Volt DC did not kill, but 1,000 Volts AC would kill a dog.

When the state of New York set up a commission to find a new, more humane way to execute their death row inmates, Edison recommended a device that used Westinghouse's alternating current. He had hoped to associate AC with the execution of criminals, not something you'd want in your house. Brown designed the chair using one of Westinghouse's generators and was installed at Auburn Prison.

Westinghouse would eventually 'win' the War of Currents, and Edison would later admit he was short sighted when it came to alternating current. Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.

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