Henri Tudor
Encyclopedia
Henri Owen Tudor was a Luxembourg
ish engineer
, inventor, and industrialist. He developed the first practical lead-acid battery
in 1886 (Gaston Planté
was the French physicist who invented the lead-acid battery in 1859).
Tudor established a factory in Rosport
for the purposes of manufacturing the batteries. However, the cost of manufacturing the product in Luxembourg, which had no lead industry and little domestic demand of its own, forced Tudor to expand manufacturing overseas, particularly in Belgium
, France
, Germany
, and the United Kingdom
. Tudor died in 1928, at the age of 68, of lead poisoning
. At the time of his death, 25,000 people worked in the manufacture of Tudor batteries.
In 1987, the Public Research Centre Henri Tudor
, freshly founded in Luxembourg, is named in honor of Henri Owen Tudor and his devotion to research and innovation. In May 2009, the Tudor Museum
with exhibits relating to his development of the lead-acid accumulator, opened in Rosport Castle where Tudor lived.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
ish engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, inventor, and industrialist. He developed the first practical lead-acid battery
Lead-acid battery
Lead–acid batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Despite having a very low energy-to-weight ratio and a low energy-to-volume ratio, their ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells maintain a relatively large...
in 1886 (Gaston Planté
Gaston Planté
Gaston Planté was the French physicist who invented the lead-acid battery in 1859. The lead-acid battery eventually became the first rechargeable electric battery marketed for commercial use.Planté was born on April 22, 1834, in Orthez, France...
was the French physicist who invented the lead-acid battery in 1859).
Tudor established a factory in Rosport
Rosport
Rosport is a commune and small town in eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher., the town of Rosport, which lies in the north-east of the commune, has a population of 656...
for the purposes of manufacturing the batteries. However, the cost of manufacturing the product in Luxembourg, which had no lead industry and little domestic demand of its own, forced Tudor to expand manufacturing overseas, particularly in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Tudor died in 1928, at the age of 68, of lead poisoning
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
. At the time of his death, 25,000 people worked in the manufacture of Tudor batteries.
In 1987, the Public Research Centre Henri Tudor
Public Research Centre Henri Tudor
The Public Research Centre Henri Tudor is a Luxembourg-based research institute. Created in late 1987, in the framework of the Luxembourgish law of 9 March 1987 about the public research, the CRP Henri Tudor took its name from Henri Owen Tudor, a famous Luxembourgish engineer.Since its creation,...
, freshly founded in Luxembourg, is named in honor of Henri Owen Tudor and his devotion to research and innovation. In May 2009, the Tudor Museum
Tudor Museum
The Tudor Museum , also known as Rosport Castle , is located in the little town of Rosport in eastern Luxembourg. Built in 1892, it was the home of the Luxembourg inventor Henri Tudor. Since May 2009, the castle has housed the Tudor Museum.-Location:...
with exhibits relating to his development of the lead-acid accumulator, opened in Rosport Castle where Tudor lived.