Callan, Nicholas (1799-1864)

Irish Roman Catholic priest and physicist who was a pioneer in the study of electricity. He was one of the first to build an induction coil, and in 1837 produced his ‘giant coil’, which generated the highest artificial voltage available at the time. He also developed electromagnets, working electric motors, and batteries, including, in 1848, the world's most powerful battery.

Callan was born in Dromiskin, near Adree, County Louth. He was ordained in 1823 and appointed the professor of natural philosophy at the seminary at Maynooth, County Dublin, in 1826, where he conducted pioneering experiments in electromagnetism. His most important work was in the induction coil, a step-up transformer which converted low voltages to high voltages, central to the modern use of electricity. His giant coil was wound with about 46 km/29 mi of fine iron wire and generated up to 600,000 volts. Callan's inventions are exhibited at the Maynooth Museum.