James Blyth (engineer)

Professor James Blyth MA, LLD, FRSE FRSSA , was a Scottish electrical engineer and academic at Andersons College, now the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow. He was a pioneer in the field of electricity generation through wind power and his wind turbine, which was used to light his holiday home in Marykirk, was the worlds firstknown structure by which electricity was generated from wind power. Blyth patented his design and later developed an improved model which served as an emergency power source at Montrose Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary amp Dispensary for the nextyears. Although Blyth received recognition for his contributions to science, electricity generation by wind power was considered uneconomical and no more wind turbines were built in the United Kingdom until 1951, some 64 years after Blyth built his first prototype.

James Blyth was born in Marykirk, Kincardineshire, onApril 1839 to John Blyth, an innkeeper and small farmer, and his wife Catherine. He attended the Marykirk parish school and later, the Montrose Academy before winning a scholarship to the General Assembly Normal School, Edinburgh in 1886. After graduating as a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Edinburgh in 1861, Blyth taught mathematics at Morrisons Academy in Crieff and established the technical and scientific curriculum for the newly established George Watsons College in Edinburgh.

Source: Wikipedia