Georg Wilhelm Richmann

[1] He died by electrocution in St. Petersburg when struck by apparent ball lightning produced by an experiment attempting to ground the electrical discharge from a storm.

[citation needed] Richmann was electrocuted in Saint Petersburg on 6 August 1753 (Old Style, 26 July 1753)[1] while "trying to quantify the response of an insulated rod to a nearby storm.

"[5] He is said to have been attending a meeting of the Academy of Sciences when he heard thunder, whereupon he ran home with his engraver to capture the event for posterity.

[citation needed] While the experiment was underway, a discharge reported to have been ball lightning appeared and collided with Richmann's head leaving him with a red spot on his forehead, his left shoe blown open, and parts of his clothes singed.

[6][7] This incident represents the first documented case of ball lightning,[9] and Richmann appears to be the first person in history to have lost his life while conducting electrical experiments.