William Sturgeon (22.05.1783-4.12.1850) was an English inventor. He was born in Whittington. In 1802 — 20 he served in the army, then worked as a shoemaker and took up science and the design of instruments. He was a lecturer at the East India Company's Military Seminary at Addiscombe, and in 1840 —44 head of the Gallery of Practical Science in Manchester.
His main research concerned electromagnetism. He invented (1823) the dynamo. In 1825 he built the first horseshoe electromagnet, with a core of soft iron wound with insulated copper wire. He developed (1828) the method of amalgamating zinc. He constructed a number of electrical machines. He also studied atmospheric electricity.