William Cruikshank, English Chemist. In 1802, following the invention of Volta's pile, Dr. William Cruikshank designed the first electric battery capable of mass production. Whereas Volta had arranged his plates vertically in a pile Cruikshank arranged zinc and copper plates horizontally in wooden troughs. Grooves in the box held the metal plates in position. The wooden box was sealed with cement and filled with an electrolyte of brine or watered down acid. This battery provided more power than Volta's pile and had the advantage of not drying out with use.