Profile Edward Weston, Weston Electrical Instrument Company circa 1910

Dr. Edward Weston, well known as an electrical engineer and inventor, was born at Brynn Castle, near Oswestry, Shropshire, England, in 1850. His education was originally directed toward the profession of medicine, but his strong inclination toward electrical subjects led him to abandon this intention, and to come to the United States, where he was first occupied in the industry of nickel-plating; and in 1872 he began his experimental investigations in the improvement of dynamo-electrical machinery. The extent of his labours in this field will appear when it is understood that during a period of eleven years there were issued to him three hundred patents relating to useful applications of electricity.

In 1886 the laboratory at Newark, New Jersey, was established, this having developed into the Weston Electrical Instrument Company, for the manufacture of the famous Weston electrical measuring instruments; his work in this field also including the Weston cadmium cell and the zero-co-emcient resistance alloy known as manganin.

Dr. Weston has been honored with the degrees of D. Sc, and LL. D., and was one of the seven notable scientists recently selected by the Franklin Institute to be given the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal for “distinguished, leading and directive work” in his especial field.

Dr. Weston is a charter member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and a past-president of the same society, besides holding membership in many other professional societies in the United States and in Europe.

[reprinted from Cassier’s magazine v. 39 Nov 1910-Apr 1911]