George Westinghouse

In July 1888 George Westinghouse licensed Nikola Tesla's US patents for the induction motor and transformer designs. In 1918 his former home was razed and the land given to the City of Pittsburgh to establish Westinghouse Park. Westinghouse AC networks were clearly winning the battle of the currents and the ultra-competitive Edison saw a last opportunity to defeat his rival.

Westinghouse was one of Thomas Edison's main rivals in the early implementation of the American electricity system. In 1911 Westinghouse received the AIEE's Edison Medal "For meritorious achievement in connection with the development of the alternating current system. Westinghouse's system ultimately prevailed over Edison's insistence on direct current.