13 Facts About Charles Merz

Charles Hesterman Merz was a British electrical engineer who pioneered the use of high-voltage three-phase AC power distribution in the United Kingdom, building a system in the North East of England in the early 20th century that became the model for the country's National Grid.

Charles Merz was born in Gateshead and attended Bootham School, York.

Charles Merz attended Armstrong College in Newcastle, where his father was a part-time lecturer.

Charles Merz then entered an apprenticeship at the Newcastle Electric Supply Company, which had been founded by his father, in 1889.

In 1898 Charles Merz became the first Secretary and Chief Engineer of the Cork Electric Tramways and Lighting Company in Cork, Ireland.

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When Price was succeeded by Philip Vassar Hunter, Charles Merz worked with him to develop an improved version which became known as the Charles Merz-Hunter system.

Charles Merz was known affectionately within the electricity industry as the "Grid King".

Charles Merz was a consultant to a local tramway company on the electrification of their horse-drawn routes and, subsequently, to the Tyneside local lines of the North Eastern Railway, a pioneer of British mainline railway electrification, whose electric systems were turned on in 1904.

Between 1907 and 1913 Charles Merz was hired by Thomas James Tait to electrify the railway system in Melbourne, Australia.

In 1916 Charles Merz pointed out that the UK could use its small size to its advantage, by creating a dense distribution grid to feed its industries efficiently.

Charles Merz's findings led to the Williamson Report of 1918, which in turn created the Electricity Supply Bill of 1919.

Charles Merz sat on the Weir Committee, which produced the more significant Electricity Act of 1926, leading to the setting up of the National Grid.

In 1940 Charles Merz designed the electric drive equipment for the TOG 1 tank.