The Priest Who Invented Modern Electricity

In 1836, an Irish priest invented the first transformer to turn low-voltage battery power into high-voltage sparks. This humble device once powered everything from early X-ray machines to bizarre Victorian medical treatments.

Nicholas Callan created the induction coil using layers of wire that revolutionized how we understand electricity. While it was once the backbone of early wireless radio and medicine, its role has shifted dramatically over time. Today, you likely encounter this same technology every time you turn the key in your car to start the engine. It remains one of the most important yet overlooked inventions in the history of electronics.