Wolfgang von Kempelen

Biography

Wolfgang von Kempelen was born on January 23, 1734, in Bratislava. He was an Austrian and Hungarian inventor who contributed to the development of automatic machines. Kempelen was a polymath, combining engineering and artistic pursuits in his work—he was an engineer, mechanic, architect, as well as a writer, playwright, artist, and chess player. His scientific works include the treatise "The Mechanism of Human Speech," which reflects his interests in speech and mechanical devices. Kempelen lived during the time of the Habsburg monarchy and represented Hungary. He died on March 26, 1804, in Alserforstadt. His life and work remain significant for the study of invention history and the culture of Central Europe in the eighteenth century.