George Westinghouse - Icon Profile | Alexandria
George Westinghouse (1846-1914) stands as one of America's most prolific inventors and industrial innovators, whose revolutionary contributions to electricity, railroads, and manufacturing fundamentally shaped the modern technological landscape. Though often overshadowed in popular history by contemporaries like Thomas Edison, Westinghouse's genius lay not only in his inventive capacity but in his remarkable ability to recognize, develop, and commercialize transformative technologies.
First emerging into public consciousness in 1869 with his patented air brake system for railroads, Westinghouse demonstrated early the practical ingenuity that would characterize his career. The air brake, which dramatically improved railroad safety, revealed his gift for solving complex engineering challenges while maintaining commercial viability. This innovation arrived at a crucial moment in American industrial expansion, as the nation's railways struggled to keep pace with growing demands for faster, safer transport.
Westinghouse's most profound impact came through his championing of alternating current (AC) electricity during the infamous "War of Currents" with Thomas Edison in the 1880s. Despite fierce opposition and Edison's notorious publicity campaign against AC power, Westinghouse's unwavering belief in the superior efficiency of alternating current ultimately prevailed. His successful implementation of AC power at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, followed by the first hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls in 1895, definitively demonstrated AC's advantages and established the electrical standard that powers our world today.
The legacy of Westinghouse extends far beyond his 361 patents or the multiple companies bearing his name. His business philosophy, emphasizing employee welfare and collaborative innovation, presaged modern corporate culture. The Westinghouse Electric Corporation became a cornerstone of American industrial might, pioneering advancements in radio, television, nuclear power, and space technology. Today, as society grapples with questions of sustainable energy and technological innovation, Westinghouse's vision of efficient power distribution and his commitment to progressive industrial practices remain remarkably relevant. His life poses an intriguing question: How might this champion of alternating current have approached our contemporary energy challenges?