William Snow Harris

Sir William Snow Harris (1 April 1791 – 22 January 1867) was an English physician and electrical researcher, nicknamed Thunder-and-Lightning Harris, and noted for his invention of a successful system of lightning conductors for ships. It took many years of campaigning, research and successful testing before the British Royal Navy changed to Harris's conductors from their previous less effective system. One of the successful test vessels was HMS Beagle which survived lightning strikes unharmed on her famous voyage with Charles Darwin.

Read more about William Snow Harris:  Life and Work, Lightning Conductor For Ships, Selected Books

Famous quotes containing the words william, snow and/or harris:

    Well, I know you haven’t had much experience writing and none at all in pictures. But I’ve heard about you. It all sounded like you’re just the man I wanted for a story about the Navy. I don’t want a story just about ships and planes. I want a story about the officers.... I want this story from a pen dipped in salt water not dry martinis. Do you know what I mean?
    Frank Fenton, William Wister Haines, co-scenarist, and John Ford. John Dodge (Ward Bond)

    These be
    Three silent things:
    The falling snow ... the hour
    Before the dawn ... the mouth of one
    Just dead.
    Adelaide Crapsey (1878–1914)

    A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.
    —Sydney J. Harris (b. 1917)