Alfred Still


Alfred Still was an English electrical engineer, academic and book author. He worked both as a practicing electrical engineer and as faculty at Purdue University. Before retirement he authored six textbooks; after retiring he co-authored one textbook, wrote three general science books and one on aspects of scientific philosophy, some of which are available online.

Life

Still was born in Gloucestershire, England, and received his primary education in Dieppe, Normandy, France from 1879-1885. At the age of 16 he entered Finsbury Technical College in London, England, graduating in 1889 where he studied under Dr. Silvanus P. Thompson. After graduating, he participated in the development of the first hydroelectric power plant in England, and later became a designer and manufacturer of electrical machinery in Manchester, England.
In early 1911 Still moved to Canada to work on hydroelectric development for the Lake Superior Power Company, with its central office in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He joined the Purdue University faculty in 1913 to take charge of instruction in Electrical Engineering, teaching for many years. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1935. He was the author of a number of science textbooks, scientific articles and at least one novel.

Awards

Still became a Fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1914.