William Snow Harris

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Sir William Snow Harris (April 1, 1791 - January 22, 1867) was an English electrician.

Harris was born in Plymouth and studied at the University of Edinburgh. In 1820 he invented a new method of arranging the lightning conductors of ships, the peculiarity of which was that the metal was permanently fixed in the masts and extended throughout the hull; but it was only with great difficulty, and not until 1847, that his invention was adopted by the British government for the Royal Navy. His system was first adopted by the Russian navy, and in 1845 the Tsar, in acknowledgment of his services, presented him with a valuable ring and vase.

In 1835 he received the Copley Medal from the Royal Society for his papers on the laws of electricity of high tension, and in 1847 he was knighted.

Author of 'Rudimentry Electricity, being a Concise Exposition of the General Principles of Electrical Science.' Published by John Weale, 59 High Holborn, London in 1848.