Invention of Electric Motor: Who Invented It and When?

Detail	Information
Invention Name	Electric Motor
What It Does	Converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, most often rotation.
Core Physical Principle	Magnetic force on electric current creates torque on a rotor inside a magnetic field.
Why There Is No Single “One-Day” Inventor	The electric motor is a family of designs that matured from early laboratory rotation to practical machines over decades.
First Continuous Electromagnetic Rotation	Michael Faraday, demonstrated electromagnetic rotation on September 3, 1821.
Earliest Preserved Motor Apparatus	Faraday’s electromagnetic rotation apparatus, dated 1822, often presented as the first electric motor in physical form.
First Clearly “Work-Capable” Rotating Motor	Moritz Hermann Jacobi completed a practical rotating motor in May 1834 (continuous-duty output reported around 15 W).
Early Demonstration of Real-World Propulsion	Jacobi’s electrically driven paddle-wheel boat on the Neva River (demonstrated September 13, 1838; motor output reported about 300 W).
Often-Cited Early Motor Patent	Thomas Davenport received a widely cited early patent for an electric motor in 1837.
Major Breakthrough for Modern Power Systems	AC induction motor concept and system popularized by Nikola Tesla (patent filed October 12, 1887; granted May 1, 1888; public technical paper delivered May 16, 1888).

The electric motor did not arrive as a single finished device. It emerged as a chain of ideas and hardware—each step turning a scientific insight into a machine that could do repeatable mechanical work. When people ask, “Who invented the electric motor?” the most accurate answer is a timeline: Faraday proving rotation was possible, Jacobi building a motor that could credibly power tasks, Davenport securing an early patent, and Tesla helping shift motors into an alternating-current era that scaled with electricity networks.

How Electric Motors Turn Electricity into Motion

An electric motor works because electricity and magnetism are linked. When current flows through a conductor, magnetic effects appear; when conductors sit in magnetic fields, they experience forces. Arrange those forces so they keep producing torque, and you get sustained rotation rather than a one-time twitch.

What Early Inventors Had to Solve

• Continuous rotation, not just a brief movement.
• Direction control, so torque keeps pushing the same way.
• Practical power, meaning enough output to move real loads.
• Reliable electrical supply, since early batteries were heavy and costly.

From Faraday’s Rotation to Practical Machines

Faraday Shows Continuous Rotation

On September 3, 1821, Michael Faraday demonstrated a striking idea: an arrangement of current and magnetic field could produce continuous rotary motion. The demonstration mattered less for raw power and more for proof—electricity could be converted into ongoing mechanical motion.

A preserved electromagnetic rotation apparatus dated 1822 is often highlighted as an early physical example of a true electric motor. Early designs sometimes used materials now handled with strict safety standards, including mercury used as a conductor in certain historical setups.

Jacobi Builds a “Work-Capable” Rotating Motor

In May 1834, Moritz Hermann Jacobi completed a rotating motor that moved beyond demonstration into measurable performance. Reported continuous-duty power for that motor sits around 15 watts, with rotation speeds described in the range of roughly 60–130 rpm—numbers that made it possible to discuss motors as machines, not just curiosities.

Jacobi also made history on water. On September 13, 1838, he demonstrated an electrically driven paddle-wheel boat on the Neva River. Reports describe a motor output around 300 watts, a speed near 2.5 km/h, and capacity on the order of a dozen passengers.

Davenport Secures an Early Motor Patent

As motors matured, patents helped document what designers believed was new. Thomas Davenport received an influential early patent in 1837 that is frequently cited in historical accounts of the electric motor. Patent records and later technical histories emphasize that early patents did not mean the first physical motor ever built; they captured specific technical claims at a time when the field was evolving fast.

Milestones in the Invention Timeline

Year	Milestone	Why It Matters
1821	Faraday demonstrates electromagnetic rotation.	Shows continuous motion from electricity is possible.
1822	Preserved Faraday rotation apparatus dated 1822.	Early physical example often presented as a first motor artifact.
1834	Jacobi completes a practical rotating motor (reported ~15 W).	Moves motor development toward measurable, repeatable work.
1838	Jacobi demonstrates an electrically driven paddle-wheel boat.	Signals that motors can push beyond the workshop into real tasks.
1837	Davenport receives an early electric motor patent.	Documents technical claims during an era of rapid experimentation.
1887–1888	Tesla files and receives a patent for an AC motor concept; delivers a major technical paper in 1888.	Helps establish the AC motor pathway that scales with power systems.

Major Electric Motor Types

The “electric motor” is best understood as a set of related designs. The differences are not cosmetic; they shape efficiency, torque behavior, controllability, and where each motor thrives.

Direct Current Motors

• Brushed DC motor: uses a commutator and brushes to keep torque direction consistent.
• Permanent-magnet DC motor: simpler field creation, often compact.
• Series and shunt DC motors: classic variations that shape torque and speed behavior.
• Universal motor: a series-wound design that can run on AC or DC in many household tools and appliances.

Alternating Current Motors

• Induction motor: rotor currents are induced by the stator’s changing field; celebrated for robustness.
• Synchronous motor: rotor locks to the rotating magnetic field, maintaining precise speed under steady conditions.
• Single-phase and polyphase families: design choices that align with the available power supply and performance needs.

Electronically Commutated and Specialized Motors

• Brushless DC (BLDC): electronic switching replaces mechanical commutation; often compact and efficient.
• Stepper motor: moves in discrete steps for positioning.
• Switched reluctance motor: torque from a rotor’s tendency to align with magnetic circuits; often paired with modern power electronics.
• Linear motor: produces direct linear motion rather than rotation.

Motor Type	Signature Trait	Common Uses
Brushed DC	Mechanical commutation with brushes.	Simple drives, educational setups, legacy systems.
AC Induction	Rotor torque from induced currents; sturdy construction.	Fans, pumps, compressors, industrial machinery.
Synchronous	Runs at field speed under steady operation.	Timing-critical industrial processes, some high-efficiency applications.
BLDC	Electronic commutation; high power density potential.	Computing, appliances, modern electric drives, precision equipment.
Stepper	Predictable stepwise motion for positioning.	Printers, instruments, CNC positioning stages.
Switched Reluctance	Torque from reluctance alignment; controller-driven.	Applications that prioritize robustness and wide speed range.

Core Parts and Design Advances

Across centuries of development, the vocabulary stays remarkably consistent: stator, rotor, windings, magnetic materials, and mechanical support. What changes is how efficiently the motor turns input electricity into usable torque.

Parts You Will See in Most Motors

• Magnetic circuit: guides flux through iron/steel parts.
• Windings: create controllable fields and induced effects.
• Air gap: the engineered space where forces do their work.
• Bearings: support smooth rotation and long life.
• Switching method: mechanical (commutator) or electronic (inverter/controller).

Where Electric Motors Do the Most Work

Electric motors quietly deliver a large share of the mechanical motion in modern life, from small precision devices to heavy industrial systems. Their appeal is straightforward: clean local operation, high controllability, and strong efficiency potential when paired with well-designed drives.

Questions People Ask About the First Electric Motors

Who “Invented” the Electric Motor?

It depends on what “invented” means. If it means proving continuous rotation, Faraday’s 1821 demonstration is central. If it means a work-capable rotating machine with reported performance, Jacobi’s 1834 motor is a landmark. If it means a patent that helped formalize motor claims, Davenport’s 1837 patent is often highlighted.

What Makes a Motor “Practical” in Historical Terms?

Historians usually look for repeatable output, credible measurement, and an ability to do a task beyond the bench. Jacobi’s reported power figures and his 1838 boat demonstration show a motor stepping into real-world work, even while early electrical supply remained a limiting factor.

Why Was the AC Induction Motor a Major Step?

AC motor concepts built around a rotating magnetic field helped reduce reliance on mechanical commutators, while matching the realities of large-scale electrical distribution. Tesla’s patent filing and his 1888 technical paper helped communicate and accelerate this direction in motor development.