Johann Christian Poggendorff

Johann Christian Poggendorff, was a German physicist born in Hamburg. By far the greater and more important part of his work related to electricity and magnetism. Poggendorff is known for his electrostatic motor which is analogous to Wilhelm Holtz's electrostatic machine. In 1841 he described the use of the potentiometer for measurement of electrical potentials without current draw.

29 December 1796

Born on the same birth day (29 December): Charles Macintosh • Earl Gregg Swem • Ed Bruce • Indian National Congress • John Newton (actor) • Ray Nitschke • Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick • Sean Payton • The Wachowskis • Zaki Chehab

Born in the same month (December 1796): Manuel Bretón de los Herreros • Thomas Chandler Haliburton