George Westinghouse
George Westinghouse was an American entrepreneur and engineer known for creating the railway air brake and pioneering the electrical industry.
Inventor
October 6, 1846
Libra
March 12, 1914
67
Central Bridge, New York
George Westinghouse Jr. was a prominent American inventor and businessman who significantly contributed to the development of the railway and electrical industries. He is best known for inventing the railway air brake and recognizing the potential of alternating current for electric power distribution, which played a vital role in its widespread adoption. Among his most notable accomplishments are the establishment of the first hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls, the creation of natural gas pipelines, founding the Westinghouse Electric Company, and inventing gas shock absorbers for automobiles. Although often overshadowed by Thomas Edison, Westinghouse’s enduring innovations continue to influence and shape our modern world.
