Nicholas Callan (20.12.1799 - 14.01.1864) was an Irish physicist. He was born near Dundalk. He studied at the college in Maynooth, where in 1823 he was ordained a priest and in 1826 became professor of natural philosophy.
His main work was in the field of electromagnetism. He built large electric batteries and electromagnets. In 1836 he invented the induction coil (before C. Page and H. Ruhmkorff) and in 1838 he discovered the principle of self-excitation (before E. Siemens and C. Wheatstone).