Charles Burgess
Electrical Engineer – dry cells and electrochemistry
6/5/1873 – 2/13/1945
Key Achievement
Charles Burgess was an inventor and entrepreneur. He invented a process for the electrolytic purification of iron and other electrochemical processes. As a manager for the French Battery Company and later at the Burgess Battery Company, he helped to improve early dry-cell batteries to the point that they were widely used for portable lights and radios.
The Burgess Battery Company became an important manufacturer of dry cell batteries for flashlights, radio, and other applications. The Burgess Battery Company eventually became part of Mallory Battery, now known as Duracell. The French Battery Company became Ray-O-Vac in 1930. RAYOVAC is now owned by Energizer.
Several other companies were founded by Charles Burgess and his employees. The Burgess Cellulose Company was founded in 1931, with employee Arlie W. Schorger as its president. Micro Switch was founded in 1937.
Burgess was elected to President of The American Electrochemical Society in 1907. He was awarded prestigious Perkin Medal on January 8, 1932 “in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments and achievements, notably in the field of electrochemistry”. He was made an Honorary Member of The Electrochemical Society in 1932 and received the Edward Goodrich Acheson Medal Award “for his many and varied inventions and accomplishments” on October 8, 1942.
The Burgess Battery Company became an important manufacturer of dry cell batteries for flashlights, radio, and other applications. The Burgess Battery Company eventually became part of Mallory Battery, now known as Duracell. The French Battery Company became Ray-O-Vac in 1930. RAYOVAC is now owned by Energizer.
Several other companies were founded by Charles Burgess and his employees. The Burgess Cellulose Company was founded in 1931, with employee Arlie W. Schorger as its president. Micro Switch was founded in 1937.
Burgess was elected to President of The American Electrochemical Society in 1907. He was awarded prestigious Perkin Medal on January 8, 1932 “in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments and achievements, notably in the field of electrochemistry”. He was made an Honorary Member of The Electrochemical Society in 1932 and received the Edward Goodrich Acheson Medal Award “for his many and varied inventions and accomplishments” on October 8, 1942.
Connection to Wisconsin
Burgess was born in Wisconsin and educated at UW – Madison. He received a B.S. in engineering in 1895 and an advanced electrical engineering degree in 1898. As a graduate assistant, he helped to formulate a four-year course in Applied Electrochemistry in 1905. That program was the foundation of today’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the UW – Madison College of Engineering. He remained a professor at UW until 1913 even though he had founded his own engineering firm.
For additional information, visit:
Charles Frederick Burgess – Wisconsin Historical Society EssayCharles F. Burgess – The Electrochemical Society
For additional information, visit:
Charles Frederick Burgess – Wisconsin Historical Society EssayCharles F. Burgess – The Electrochemical Society