Dr Sebastian de Ferranti
Dr. Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti was an Innovator in the development of electrical engineering, an Engineer who led the application of power generation and distribution, and the Entrepreneur founder of the Ferranti group of companies.
Personal life
Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti was born at 130 Bold Street in Liverpool, England where his Italian father, Cesar, who was a photographer, had a photographic art studio.
He married Gertrude Ruth Ince on April 24, 1888 and they had seven children together.
Ferranti died on January 13, 1930 in Zurich, Switzerland. He was buried in the same grave as his parents and his daughter Yolanda at Hampstead cemetery, London.
Professional career
Ferranti showed a remarkable talent for electrical engineering from his childhood. His first invention was at the age of 13 in 1877. His father consulted him on the "installation of electric lighting" in Bold Street, so he produced an arc light for street lighting. Reportedly, around the age of 16, he built an electrical generator (that had a "Zig-zag armature") with the help of Lord Kelvin and later patented the device (called the "Ferranti Dynamo"). and one year later sold a dynamo for £5 10s. In 1881, this was a significant sum of money. He naturally went into this business, in 1882, when he set up shop in London designing various electrical devices.
In the late 1880s there was a debate within the industry about the transmission of electrical power, known as the War of the Currents. Thomas Edison supported a direct current (DC) based system, largely due to his holding many key patents and having set up some power plants supplying DC power. His rival, Nikola Tesla, supported an alternating current (AC) system that was being backed by Westinghouse.
Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti was born at 130 Bold Street in Liverpool, England where his Italian father, Cesar, who was a photographer, had a photographic art studio.
He married Gertrude Ruth Ince on April 24, 1888 and they had seven children together.
Ferranti died on January 13, 1930 in Zurich, Switzerland. He was buried in the same grave as his parents and his daughter Yolanda at Hampstead cemetery, London.
Professional career
Ferranti showed a remarkable talent for electrical engineering from his childhood. His first invention was at the age of 13 in 1877. His father consulted him on the "installation of electric lighting" in Bold Street, so he produced an arc light for street lighting. Reportedly, around the age of 16, he built an electrical generator (that had a "Zig-zag armature") with the help of Lord Kelvin and later patented the device (called the "Ferranti Dynamo"). and one year later sold a dynamo for £5 10s. In 1881, this was a significant sum of money. He naturally went into this business, in 1882, when he set up shop in London designing various electrical devices.
In the late 1880s there was a debate within the industry about the transmission of electrical power, known as the War of the Currents. Thomas Edison supported a direct current (DC) based system, largely due to his holding many key patents and having set up some power plants supplying DC power. His rival, Nikola Tesla, supported an alternating current (AC) system that was being backed by Westinghouse.
Ferranti bet on AC early on, and was one of the few experts in this system in the UK. In 1887 the London Electric Supply Corporation (LESCo) hired Ferranti for the design of their power station at Deptford. He designed the building, the generating plant and the distribution system. On its completion in 1891 it was the first truly modern power station, supplying high-voltage AC power that was then "stepped down" for consumer use on each street. |
The power station was the first to output electricity at 10,000 V. Sebastian was one of the first people to advocate large scale power generating stations sited outside of population centres and established the principle of the national grid using AC (alternating current) transmission Ferranti's Deptford Power Sation
This basic system remains in use today around the world. One of the remaining supports of the generating hall of Deptford Power Station forms the frame of the sign at the Manchester Museum of science and Industry in Manchester UK, home of the Ferranti Archives.
This basic system remains in use today around the world. One of the remaining supports of the generating hall of Deptford Power Station forms the frame of the sign at the Manchester Museum of science and Industry in Manchester UK, home of the Ferranti Archives.
Wherever he came upon a problem he invented something to overcome it. Amongst others he invented -
1. An electrical Generator (dynamo) to make the electricity
2. The transformer required to step down the electricity carried from the power station at high voltage to make it suitable for use in the home.
3. Insulated cables to carry the high voltage electricity safely.
4. A meter to measure how much electricity any one consumer was using
5. The power station building necessary to do the job.
1. An electrical Generator (dynamo) to make the electricity
2. The transformer required to step down the electricity carried from the power station at high voltage to make it suitable for use in the home.
3. Insulated cables to carry the high voltage electricity safely.
4. A meter to measure how much electricity any one consumer was using
5. The power station building necessary to do the job.
The Ferranti works moved from London to Hollinwood in 1896. Dr Ferranti's interest were much wider than electrical engineering, and embraced mechanical engineering, the design and manufacture of textile machinery, and instrumentation. In the first world war Ferranti supervised and controlled munitions production at Hollinwood. |
Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti joined the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1891, became a member of Council in 1895, and served as IEE President in 1910-11. He was awarded the Faraday Medal in 1924.
His son, Sir Vincent Z. de Ferranti also served as IEE President, and his grandson Sebastian J.Z. de Ferranti presented the IEE Faraday lecture.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1927.
His son, Sir Vincent Z. de Ferranti also served as IEE President, and his grandson Sebastian J.Z. de Ferranti presented the IEE Faraday lecture.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1927.