Hawksbee

Hawksbee (or Hauksbee), Francis, a distinguished electrician, was born some time after 1650, and became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1705. Next year he invented the first electrical machine, and in 1709 published his Physico-Mechanical Experiments. He discovered the "lateral communication of motion in air," constructed an improved air-pump which bears his name, and determined the relative weight of water and air. He died after 1713. A supposed son of his, who died in 1763, is thought by De Morgan to have been the first to give lectures with experiments fin London.