Antonio Pacinotti (17.06.1841-24.03.1912) was an Italian physicist and inventor and a member of the Accademia dei Lincei (1898). He was born in Pisa. He graduated from the University of Pisa (1861). In 1861—64 he taught in Florence, in 1864—72 he was professor at the Royal Technological Institute in Bologna, in 1873 —81 at the University of Cagliari, and from 1882 at the University of Pisa.
His main work was in electromagnetism and electrical engineering. In 1859 he built an electric motor with a toothed ring armature, and in 1860 a direct-current motor with a commutator, pointing out that it could be converted into a direct-current dynamo, of which he is regarded as the inventor. He built a number of magneto-electric machines and made a number of improvements.