February 18, 1745 – Alessandro Volta is born in Como
1762 – He starts his studies in the jesuit school. He reads the De rerum naturae by Lucretium, and writes a poem, in latin, on the latest physics discoveries.
1763 – He completes his studies, and, even if his family prefers a law career, Volta continues to study natural phenomena.
1769 – He publishes his first paper in physics.
1775 – He builds the “perpetual electrophorous”; obtains the physics chair in the Como High School.
1776 – He discovers and studies the flammable air from marshes (the methane).
1777 – He builds the flammable gas pistol, the gas “perpetual lamp” and the eudiometer.
1778 – Volta is nominated professor of experimental physics at the University of Pavia.
1780 – He invents the microelectroscope, later modified into the condenser electroscope.
1781-1784 – He makes study trips to Savoy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, France, England and Austria.
1791 – He publishes the laws on the isobaric expansion of air.
1792 – Beginning of the controversy with Galvani.
End of november 1799 – He invents the battery (pila), “a corona di tazze” e “a colonna”, and announces the invention to the Royal Society.
November 1801 – He explains his research at the Institut de France, in the presence of Napoleon, who proposes a gold medal for Volta.
1802-1804 – Volta becomes senator of the Italian Kingdom.
March 5, 1827 – He dies, after few days of fever in Como.
