Inventor. He is best known for his contributions to the electrical industry. From England, his family migrated to the United States in 1858. He graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1870, started teaching at the same school in 1876 and was the chair of the chemistry department by 1880. He became very productive in the study of electricity. Collaborating with a follow teacher, he founded the American Electric Company in 1880, which became the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in 1883 and was one of the precursors of the General Electric Company with a merge in 1892. Professor Thomson was one of the most prolific inventors of all time; at the time of his death, he held over 700 electrical patents. At times, he did not agree with Thomas Edison's theories. As a result of his efforts, many of the electrical services we take grant are in use such as x-ray machines, welding and generators. The first presentation of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' Edison Medal was bestowed upon him in 1909 "For meritorious achievement in electrical science, engineering and arts as exemplified in his contributions thereto during the past thirty years"; he was also president of this organization from 1889 to 1890. In 1889 for his work with electricity, he was decorated by the French Government with highest medal to a civilian with the, "Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur." Other noteworthy awards were the Rumford Medal in 1901, the Grind Prix at the Paris Expositions of 1899 and 1900, the Hughes Medal by the Royal Society of Great Britain for Experimental Researches in Electricity in 1916, and the John Fritz Medal also in 1916. In 1890, he received the honorary degree of A.M. from Yale, Tufts College in 1892 gave him the degree of Ph.D., and in 1899 he received a Doctorate of Science from Harvard. His home was designated as a United States National Landmark. The Elihu Thomson Award, sponsored by the Resistance Welding Manufacturing Alliance, has been awarded yearly since 1986 to a person showing evidence of worthy improvement in welding and with a publication.