The story of how Werner Siemens was born a poor man, and died a millionaire

Werner von Siemens was born on December 13, 1816 in the Loop near Hanover. He was one of nine children of peasant smallholders master's land.

Already in elementary school and then in high school clearly manifested his interest in the natural sciences. But his parents could not help him to translate into reality his dream of higher technical education, so he entered the military artillery school in Berlin, which gave the engineering education.

After high school, the young officer used all his spare time for experiments in various fields of natural sciences and technology. In the autumn of 1840 he was able to gild plated by small metal objects, then he invented a differential controller for a steam engine, a device for reprinting with zinc plates on a rotating speed printing machine, sparks catcher for locomotives and many other improvements.

His invention, he was trying to profitably sell, because, being an exemplary son, always helped his impoverished parents and numerous brothers and sisters.

In 1846, Siemens began to study the electric telegraph, which then began to acquire great importance in communications technology. He was able to construct a manual telegraph with its own circuit breaker. This unit has been recognized in the competition the most suitable for use at construction of the Prussian state telegraph network. For a long time to Siemens assisted in the implementation of his inventions university mechanic Johann Georg Gal.

As a result of the success of the hand of the telegraph, they jointly founded the company "Siemens and Gal." At that time, Siemens has been drafted into the military, "the commission for experiments with electromagnetic telegraph", to the same time that the invention of the press for seamless gutta-percha wire insulation. In 1849, after fourteen years of service Siemens left the army to pursue its firm scientific and technical work.

In the field of electric telegraphy he was able to carry a lot of innovations and inventions, from which you can recall at least poppet apparatus for converting low voltage DC to high voltage current and a double T-shaped anchor. The culmination of this work was the construction of the Indo-European telegraph line, the construction of which was at the time a technical sensation, and in which a number of new technical solutions used.

The biggest merit of Siemens was the discovery in 1866 dynamo principle that the generator can be excited by the residual magnetism, always available in soft iron. These obstacles have been removed, limits the possibility of generating an electric current in the quantities necessary for practical use. Siemens immediately realized the importance of his discovery and started the production of electric generators used for lighting.

Siemens worked and other inventions. In 1865 he built the first pneumatic, improved the structure of water and alcohol hydrometer, and also took part in the work of his brother Friedrich in the invention of regenerative heating melting furnaces. In addition to classes purely technical inventions, he solved many scientific problems related to static charges of underground utilities, and offered his own theory of laying subsea cables.

For Merits in Science and Technology to Siemens was twice awarded an honorary doctorate in 1873 he was admitted as a member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, and in 1888 he was granted a knighthood.

Werner von Siemens was married twice and had two sons, who led after his company. He died on December 6, 1892 in Berlin.

Interesting facts and useful links:

Article Stankevich Vadim "Werner von Siemens - a storehouse of talent, the pillar industry" :

There are people who have achieved incredible success in one area by severe self-restraint and removal of any cases in other areas. But there are other people - those whom one success inspires other, the one to whom little spheres of life for self-realization ....

... Few people know, but that Siemens introduced the term "electrical" in everyday life. In addition, Werner von Siemens was actively involved (financially, primarily) in the creation of the Berlin National Laboratory of Physics and Technology and Physical-Technical Institute in Charlottenburg.

The article "Werner Siemens did not like phones" :

... When in May 1888 the German Kaiser raised farmer's son Werner Siemens to the noble rank, he surprisingly court took it very calmly. Then von Siemens admitted that of all the awards he received, he appreciates only the title of academician of the Berlin Academy of Sciences. However, the origin of the Siemens did not give him almost no chance of becoming either an academician or a nobleman.

... Between chores Siemens found time to practice politics. He was among the founders of the German Progressive Party, which had a democratic orientation. In 1862 he was elected a member of parliament and four years represented in parliament interests district Lennep-Solingen, known for its steel industry. But the main hobby of Werner Siemens was traveling. It is mainly made of the company's affairs, but sometimes he was able to do a purely informative trips. For example, in 1858, Siemens went to Egypt, where he and a group of Shamsina took part in the study of the desert. However, more often than Siemens he visited the Russian Caucasus, where owned copper mine Kedabeg. But his countless trips there he explained the "beautiful nature and a sense of inner peace." Last time, Siemens was there for only two years before his death.

... In 1877, in the shales belonging to the late Jurassic period, one of a kind well-preserved fossil of some fossil bird was found. The finder of this paleontological rare amateur geologist intended to sell it abroad, asking for her a large sum of money. Hearing about this rare find, Siemens immediately buys it, thus leaving in Germany. Later, he passes it to the Berlin Museum of Natural History. The scientific name of the rarity Archaeopteryx Simensii (Archaeopteryx Siemens) to date reminds us of this wonderful act of Werner Siemens.

Article Kseniya Pankratova , "the Siemens transnational history of the brand." :

... His birth and rapid growth in the middle of the last century, Siemens is obliged not only to Werner Siemens and his three brothers - William, Johann Georg and Karl. Each of the four played a role in the development of the company: Werner invented the pointer telegraph and dynamo, William helped raise the initial funds for the inventive activity of his brilliant brother, and later headed the company's first overseas office in London. Johann Geogrg contributed to the authorized capital of the company - thaler 6842, ensured the success of the enterprise. And Carl since 1853 has promoted business Siemens in Russia - one of the key areas on which relied Siemens.

... From the first years of the Siemens & Halske company's business has been inextricably linked with Russia. The first business contacts Siemens brothers began to establish as early as 1851, after only four years since the company was founded.

The cooperation started with the delivery of 75 self-recording telegraphs to Russia's first telegraph line, which stretches from Finland through St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev to Odessa and the Crimea. For the company, which had three bench and 10 workers, it was a very serious order. A year later, Werner von Siemens, the full ambition, to conquer Russia. His first visit to St. Petersburg was very successful. Negotiations with the Government ensured its firm orders for the next 15 years.

Business expansion in Russia has led the company to the need to open in 1855 in St. Petersburg, its first office which was headed by Werner's younger brother, 24-year-old Carl Siemens. He quickly mastered the Russian language and with interest began to study the life and customs of Russia. Soon, Karl married a Russian, and it began to dignify Karl Fedorovich.

For services to the Russian industry, Siemens won the right to represent their products in the Russian State Emblem, and Charles himself was the signed documents as a merchant of the first guild.

New orders have inspired Karl to expand the company's activities in Russia and Eastern Europe: 60-70. last century outside Germany began to appear more and more workshops and Siemens manufacturing plant. Industry firms expansion was stopped only the beginning World War I and the Russian Revolution.

In 1918, all Russian companies Siemens & Halske were nationalized, and business contacts are interrupted. In 1925, the Germans made a feeble attempt to restore damaged ties - in Moscow opened an advisory bureau of the company, which existed until 1936. Return Siemens occurred only 35 years later - in 1971 ...