1839-1882

French chemist and engineer who invented the dry cell battery. Leclanché gave up his career as an engineer to perfect his battery, which he completed in 1866. The Belgian telegraph service adopted Leclanché's battery in 1868, and it soon came into general use. The dry cell battery was much superior to the wet cells of the day, which were similar to present-day automobile batteries in that they could spill corrosive liquid if not handled carefully.