Crompton, Rookes Evelyn Bell (1845–1940)

English engineer. He pioneered the use of the dynamo, electric lighting, and road transport. On his return from military service in India he began importing dynamos from France and set up his own company to develop and manufacture generating systems for lighting town halls, railway stations, and small residential areas. Direct-current electricity of about 400 volts was generated and used with large storage batteries (accumulators). This competed, in the end unsuccessfully, with the alternating-current system of Sebastian Ferranti.

Crompton was born near Thirsk in Yorkshire. During his school holidays he built a steam-driven road locomotive. In India as an army officer 1864–75 he continued to develop his road vehicles. Their success was undermined by the poor quality of roads, the cheapness of other forms of transport, and the developing railway system.