Frederick Hale Holmes

Frederick Hale Holmes (1812 – 1875[1]) was a professor of chemistry at the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art[2] and pioneer of electric lighting.

[3] In 1853 he demonstrated the ability of electro-magnetic generators to provide continuous current to power arc lighting and in 1856 patented a magneto to power an arc light for lighthouses which he demonstrated to Michael Faraday at Blackwall in 1857.

[4][5] His experiments with alternating current arc lighting at South Foreland Lighthouse in 1857-60[6] were the subject of a lecture by Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution.

[7] One of Holmes' generators built in 1867 and used at Souter Lighthouse is displayed at the Science Museum, London.

[8] He obtained "letters patent" for the invention of "improvements in machines known under the name of magneto-electric machines"[9] and "provisional [patent] protection" for "improvements in apparatus for the production of electric light",[10] and "improvements in fog signals, suitable for lighthouses and lightships.