Volta was born in Como, Italy and became a Professor of Physics there and in Pavia. He began experiments with electricity and discovered the current created by metals. A colleague of his, Galvani showed the leg muscles of a dead frog twitched on contact with two different metals. Volta's further research with silver and zinc in salty water showed that an electric current flowed. This was the first evidence of a battery. The 'battery' was originally called a Voltaic Pile and it led to further, important experiments. The term 'volt' is named after Volta. He also invented the electrophorus (an early electrostatic generator) in 1775 and an electroscope. Napoleon made Volta a Count in 1801.
