Alessandro Giuseppe Volta became one of the most widely recognized scientists of his time day for his work with electrical currents. Volta extended his physics work to include the electrical interactions of living organisms, and the electrical phenomena associated with various physiological processes.

Volta was born on February 18, 1745, in Como, Lombardy, Italy. Most of his eight brothers and sisters entered the church, but Alessandro became engrossed in the study of with electricity. Influenced by a history on the subject written by Joseph Priestley, fourteen-year-old Volta announced his intention of becoming a physicist, and became educated on the subject.

In 1774, Volta was appointed professor of physics at the high school in Como. There he created one of his most significant inventions; the electrophorous. This device had the ability to store significant electrical charges, and replaced the Leyden jar which, up until that time, had been used for storing smaller...