William Snow Harris

Sir William Snow Harris (1 April 1791 – 22 January 1867) was an English physician and electrical researcher, nicknamed Thunder-and-Lightning Harris, and noted for his invention of a successful system of lightning conductors for ships. It took many years of campaigning, research and successful testing before the British Royal Navy changed to Harris's conductors from their previous less effective system. One of the successful test vessels was HMS Beagle which survived lightning strikes unharmed on her famous voyage with Charles Darwin.

Read more about William Snow Harris:  Life and Work, Lightning Conductor For Ships, Selected Books

Famous quotes containing the words william, snow and/or harris:

    Utopia’s quite another land;
    In her enterprising movements,
    She is England—with improvements,
    —Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)

    February is a suitable month for dying. Everything around is dead, the trees black and frozen so that the appearance of green shoots two months hence seems preposterous, the ground hard and cold, the snow dirty, the winter hateful, hanging on too long.
    Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)

    Many the hopes that have vanished,
    After the ball.
    —Charles K. Harris (1867–1930)