P.L. Shilling (1786 – 1837)

Abstract

A brief review of the main achievements of Pavel Lvovich Shilling, the inventor of the world's first valid model of the electromagnetic telegraph and binary code for transmitting letters and numbers, which served as an incentive for scientists from other countries, is presented. The information about the parents of Shilling, interesting facts from his activities, including the details of the work against the background of the historical situation in Europe of the first third of the XIX century, are given. P.L. Shilling is the author of many scientific works, including fundamental in Oriental studies, electrical engineering, cryptography and lithography. The facts of his contacts with European and German science of that time, in particular, with Andre Ampere, Alexander Humboldt and Thomas Sömmering, are given. The military engineering work of Shil-ling, the details of his participation in the Patriotic War of 1812 and in the oriental expedition, as well as the design, operation and testing of the electromagnetic telegraph created by him are described.