INVENTOR
Lester Allan Pelton
1829 - 1908

Lester Allan Pelton
Lester Allan Pelton (September 5, 1829 – March 14, 1908) was an American inventor who contributed significantly to the development of hydroelectricity and hydropower in the American Old West as well as world-wide. In the late 1870s, he invented the Pelton water wheel, at that time the most efficient design of the impulse water turbine. Recognized as one of the fathers of hydroelectric power, he was awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal during his lifetime and is an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Lester Allan Pelton is the 282nd most popular inventor (up from 288th in 2019), the 5,596th most popular biography from United States (down from 5,220th in 2019) and the 70th most popular American Inventor.
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Among INVENTORS
Among inventors, Lester Allan Pelton ranks 282 out of 426. Before him are Alexander Bain, James Nasmyth, Frederick Scott Archer, Robert Cornelius, Robert Ludvigovich Bartini, and Joseph Aspdin. After him are Valerie Thomas, Joseph Whitworth, Beulah Louise Henry, Genrich Altshuller, Ottomar Anschütz, and Cyrus McCormick.
Most Popular Inventors in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsAlexander Bain
1810 - 1877
HPI: 58.57
Rank: 276
James Nasmyth
1808 - 1890
HPI: 58.54
Rank: 277
Frederick Scott Archer
1813 - 1857
HPI: 58.50
Rank: 278
Robert Cornelius
1809 - 1893
HPI: 58.46
Rank: 279
Robert Ludvigovich Bartini
1897 - 1974
HPI: 58.45
Rank: 280
Joseph Aspdin
1778 - 1855
HPI: 58.44
Rank: 281
Lester Allan Pelton
1829 - 1908
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 282
Valerie Thomas
1943 - Present
HPI: 58.32
Rank: 283
Joseph Whitworth
1803 - 1887
HPI: 58.31
Rank: 284
Beulah Louise Henry
1888 - 1973
HPI: 58.20
Rank: 285
Genrich Altshuller
1926 - 1998
HPI: 58.20
Rank: 286
Ottomar Anschütz
1846 - 1907
HPI: 58.04
Rank: 287
Cyrus McCormick
1809 - 1884
HPI: 58.04
Rank: 288
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1829, Lester Allan Pelton ranks 54. Before him are Ludvig Lorenz, Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg, Carl Schurz, Suzanne Manet, Charles Walter De Vis, and Jean Dufresne. After him are Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Ludwig Adolph Timotheus Radlkofer, Laura Bridgman, José López Domínguez, Mikayel Nalbandian, and Ferdinand von Hochstetter. Among people deceased in 1908, Lester Allan Pelton ranks 69. Before him are Belle Gunness, Doppo Kunikida, Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten, Walery Antoni Wróblewski, Charles Barbier de Meynard, and Jacob W. Davis. After him are Valtazar Bogišić, Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg, Friedrich Paulsen, Ernest Hébert, René Panhard, and Milovan Glišić.
Others Born in 1829
Go to all RankingsLudvig Lorenz
PHYSICIST
1829 - 1891
HPI: 59.20
Rank: 48
Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg
POLITICIAN
1829 - 1907
HPI: 59.15
Rank: 49
Carl Schurz
POLITICIAN
1829 - 1906
HPI: 59.03
Rank: 50
Suzanne Manet
PAINTER
1829 - 1906
HPI: 58.94
Rank: 51
Charles Walter De Vis
BIOLOGIST
1829 - 1915
HPI: 58.76
Rank: 52
Jean Dufresne
CHESS PLAYER
1829 - 1893
HPI: 58.40
Rank: 53
Lester Allan Pelton
INVENTOR
1829 - 1908
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 54
Louis Moreau Gottschalk
MUSICIAN
1829 - 1869
HPI: 58.18
Rank: 55
Ludwig Adolph Timotheus Radlkofer
BIOLOGIST
1829 - 1927
HPI: 57.94
Rank: 56
Laura Bridgman
WRITER
1829 - 1889
HPI: 57.81
Rank: 57
José López Domínguez
POLITICIAN
1829 - 1911
HPI: 57.77
Rank: 58
Mikayel Nalbandian
WRITER
1829 - 1866
HPI: 57.72
Rank: 59
Ferdinand von Hochstetter
GEOLOGIST
1829 - 1884
HPI: 56.22
Rank: 60
Others Deceased in 1908
Go to all RankingsBelle Gunness
EXTREMIST
1859 - 1908
HPI: 59.30
Rank: 63
Doppo Kunikida
WRITER
1871 - 1908
HPI: 59.17
Rank: 64
Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten
BIOLOGIST
1817 - 1908
HPI: 59.16
Rank: 65
Walery Antoni Wróblewski
POLITICIAN
1836 - 1908
HPI: 59.05
Rank: 66
Charles Barbier de Meynard
HISTORIAN
1826 - 1908
HPI: 59.03
Rank: 67
Jacob W. Davis
INVENTOR
1831 - 1908
HPI: 58.66
Rank: 68
Lester Allan Pelton
INVENTOR
1829 - 1908
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 69
Valtazar Bogišić
LAWYER
1834 - 1908
HPI: 58.30
Rank: 70
Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg
POLITICIAN
1838 - 1908
HPI: 58.25
Rank: 71
Friedrich Paulsen
PHILOSOPHER
1846 - 1908
HPI: 58.18
Rank: 72
Ernest Hébert
PAINTER
1817 - 1908
HPI: 58.11
Rank: 73
René Panhard
ENGINEER
1841 - 1908
HPI: 58.09
Rank: 74
Milovan Glišić
WRITER
1847 - 1908
HPI: 58.06
Rank: 75
In United States
Among people born in United States, Lester Allan Pelton ranks 5,596 out of 20,380. Before him are Sarah Sanders (1982), Marilyn Horne (1934), Michael Angelo Batio (1956), John Wesley Hardin (1853), Thomas S. Monson (1927), and Sheree J. Wilson (1958). After him are David Brin (1950), Alex Rocco (1936), Nathanael Greene (1742), Dom DeLuise (1933), Amy Lee (1981), and Seraphim Rose (1934).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsSarah Sanders
POLITICIAN
1982 - Present
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,590
Marilyn Horne
SINGER
1934 - Present
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,591
Michael Angelo Batio
MUSICIAN
1956 - Present
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,592
John Wesley Hardin
EXTREMIST
1853 - 1895
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,593
Thomas S. Monson
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1927 - 2018
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,594
Sheree J. Wilson
ACTOR
1958 - Present
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,595
Lester Allan Pelton
INVENTOR
1829 - 1908
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,596
David Brin
WRITER
1950 - Present
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 5,597
Alex Rocco
ACTOR
1936 - 2015
HPI: 58.36
Rank: 5,598
Nathanael Greene
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1742 - 1786
HPI: 58.36
Rank: 5,599
Dom DeLuise
ACTOR
1933 - 2009
HPI: 58.36
Rank: 5,600
Amy Lee
MUSICIAN
1981 - Present
HPI: 58.36
Rank: 5,601
Seraphim Rose
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1934 - 1982
HPI: 58.36
Rank: 5,602
Among INVENTORS In United States
Among inventors born in United States, Lester Allan Pelton ranks 70. Before him are Marcian Hoff (1937), George Pullman (1831), Glenn Curtiss (1878), Michael S. Hart (1947), Ray Dolby (1933), and Robert Cornelius (1809). After him are Valerie Thomas (1943), Beulah Louise Henry (1888), Cyrus McCormick (1809), Mark Rober (1980), Ralph Hartley (1888), and Frank Zamboni (1901).
Marcian Hoff
1937 - Present
HPI: 59.63
Rank: 64
George Pullman
1831 - 1897
HPI: 59.47
Rank: 65
Glenn Curtiss
1878 - 1930
HPI: 59.38
Rank: 66
Michael S. Hart
1947 - 2011
HPI: 59.14
Rank: 67
Ray Dolby
1933 - 2013
HPI: 58.95
Rank: 68
Robert Cornelius
1809 - 1893
HPI: 58.46
Rank: 69
Lester Allan Pelton
1829 - 1908
HPI: 58.37
Rank: 70
Valerie Thomas
1943 - Present
HPI: 58.32
Rank: 71
Beulah Louise Henry
1888 - 1973
HPI: 58.20
Rank: 72
Cyrus McCormick
1809 - 1884
HPI: 58.04
Rank: 73
Mark Rober
1980 - Present
HPI: 58.03
Rank: 74
Ralph Hartley
1888 - 1970
HPI: 58.00
Rank: 75
Frank Zamboni
1901 - 1988
HPI: 57.87
Rank: 76