July 6, 1851 – Electric motor inventor dies

The inventor of the battery powered electric motor, Thomas Davenport, passed away on this day in 1851 at the age of 48. Davenport completed his motor in 1834, and received a patent for his invention in 1837. Davenport demonstrated his motor by powering a small car on a short section of track, paving the way to the electrification of street cars. In 1840 he used his invention to print The Electro-Magnetic and Mechanics Intelligencer

, the first newspaper printed using electricity. Further development of Davenport’s invention was key in the production of early electric automobiles.