Zénobe Gramme

Zénobe Gramme, by Mathurin Moreau

Zénobe Théophile Gramme (April 4, 1826 - January 20, 1901) was a Belgian electrical engineer.

In spite of the fact that he was semi-literate and had no advanced knowledge of mathematics, in 1869, he invented the Gramme machine, a type of direct current dynamo capable of generating smoother (less AC) and much higher voltages than the dynamos known to that point. In 1873 he accidentally discovered that the device was reversible and would spin when connected to any DC power supply. The Gramme Machine was the first usefully powerful electrical motor successful in industry. Before Gramme's inventions, electric motors attained only low power and were used as toys or laboratory curiousities.

Gramme died at Bois-Colombes, France and was buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery.

In the city of Liège there is a High School, L'Institut Gramme, named after him.