Invention of the battery by Alessandro Volta

In 1799 Volta constructed a battery from a pile of alternating silver and zinc disks, with an absorbant material soaked in brine between each disk. This apparatus, know as the voltaic pile, produced an electric current, thereby disproving the old theory that animal matter had to be present for electricity to be produced.

Almost immediately William Nicholson used this apparatus to decomposed water by electrolysis and later, in 1807, Humphrey Davy discovered potassium and sodium using the same process.

Volta was awarded the Legion of Honour by Napolean in recognition of his work, and the unit of electric potential was named the volt in his honour.

Volta's discovery provided scientists with a reliable source of reasonably large electric currents, thereby revolutionising the science of elelctricity and facilitating the research into electrolysis that made the likes of Michael Faraday and Humphrey Davy famous.