Alessandro Volta was born in Como, Italy on February 18, 1745. Although born into a noble family, his father died when Alessando was 7, leaving the family in poverty.  Alessandro Volta served as Professor of Physics at the Royal School at Como, did work involving frictional electricity and chemistry, and eventually invented the electric battery. The volt, a unit of electrical measure, was named in his honor. He was appointed a count by Napoleon in 1810 and later settled into retirement in Spain. He died on March 5, 1827.