Born Feb 18, 1745: Alessandro Volta (1745–1827) was an Italian physicist known for his pioneering work in electricity. His most significant contribution was the invention of the voltaic pile in 1800, the first electrical battery, which produced a steady electric current. This invention was crucial in the field of electrochemistry and led to the development of modern electrical science. Volta’s work laid the foundation for the study of electricity and its applications, and the unit of electric potential, the volt, is named in his honor.