Emily Davenport

Who is Emily Davenport?

Emily Goss Davenport was an inventor from Vermont, United States. Emily, with her husband Thomas Davenport, invented an electric motor and electric locomotive circa 1834.

Throughout the process of invention, Emily kept detailed notes and actively contributed to the process. Needing to insulate the motor's iron core, Davenport cut her wedding dress into strips of silk to insulate the wire windings. She is also credited with the idea of using mercury as a conductor, enabling the motor to function for the first time.