Zénobe Theophilus Gram (Jehay-Bodegnée, the April 4th 1826 - Wood-Doves January 20th 1901) is a Belgian electrician Walloon.
He was born in Jehay-Bodegnée, a village close to Liege but lived the major part of his life in France.
Genious handyman, and cabinetmaker in the goldsmith Christofle, it develops the prototype of the first industrial Dynamo (1869). Prototype 2 of its dynamo (1871) is exposed to the Maison of the Metallurgy and Industry of Liege. The “machine of Gram” makes it possible to deposit, by electrolysis, 600 grams of money in one hour on brass covers. The future of the dynamo would have been limited without the discovery, by Hippolyte Fontaine, of its reversibility. Of generator of D.C. current, it can become energy producer mechanical, able to replace the Steam engine.
The town of Liege dedicated a monument to him to its effigy for the World Fair of 1905. One can also see another monument with Hannut where he worked with the development of the Dynamo. It is buried with the Cimetière of the Father-Lachaise (94 ème division)
Anecdotes
A training ship of the marine Belgian soldier bears his name, the A958 Zenobe Gram .Zénobe Gram was number 23 in the Wallone version of the election the largest Belgians in 2005.
A school of Engineers Industriels in Liege bears his name, the Industrial Institute of higher learning Gram (one says: " he studied in Gram").
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