Werner Siemens (1816-1892), German electrical engineer. His full name was Ernst Werner Siemens. He was born in Lenthe, Hanover, Germany. In 1834 he entered the Prussian Artillery, and later took charge of the artillery workshops in Berlin. While in Prussia he developed the telegraphic system. However, his main achievements were in designing electrical generators, electric traction and electrolytic systems. He also founded the company that would became Siemens AG. In 1888, he was elevated to the nobility and became Werner von Siemens. The SI unit of electrical conductance is named after him. Artwork from A Travers L'Electricite (Georges Dary, Paris, 1900).