Electric Illumination in the Franco-Prussian War

Crosland has given an excellent presentation of various aspects of science and technology in the Franco-Prussian war.I After pointing out that scant attention has been given to these subjects, he proceeds to discuss them under various headings (explosives, communications, and so on). Such topics as the use of balloons, carrier pigeons, and microphotography are given the emphasis they deserve, but his treatment of the military uses of electric illumination is quite brief and needs amplification. The purpose of this Note is to draw attention to some of the French military applications of electric arc light illumination, but it is not meant to be an exhaustive examination of the subject. During the first decade of the nineteenth century Sir Humphry Davy, Auguste de La Rive, and others produced sparks and arcs between rods (or other shapes) of carbon connected to batteries. By 1840 the latter had been developed to such an extent that some inventors saw a glimmer of hope that the galvanic current could be tapped as a source of large scale lighting. Among the first to pursue this object were various Paris instrument makers. These pioneers frequently gave public demonstrations designed to show the usefulness of their particular form of arc light. By 1850 arc lights were being used more and more for special outdoor public events, and also for spectacular scenes in theatrical and operatic productions. In the meantime practical magneto-electric generators based on Faraday's discovery of electromagnetic induction were being built. One design by the Societe Alliance of Paris was used to power arc lights in various public displays in 1861-62. So impressive were the results that in 1863 the French government adopted the Alliance machine for lighthouse use, and subsequently for naval ship installations. Thus when the war broke out in 1870 and Paris was put under siege, the military, academicians, other scientists, inventors, engineers, and the general public had all witnessed for thirty years the usefulness of electrical illumination (albeit on a very limited scale). It was not surprising, therefore, that the use of the arc light should demand the attention of those responsible for the prosecution of the war.3 Indeed, Crosland has indicated that

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• Science and the Franco-Prussian War

  Open Access•Maurice Crosland•Social Studies of Science•1976

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