William Henry Merrill

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William Henry Merrill was an American electrical engineer who founded Underwriters Laboratories in 1894.

[edit] Biography

William Henry Merrill began his career as an electrical engineer in Boston, Massachusetts. At the age of 25, he was hired by insurers for the World's Columbian Exposition to examine the safety of the electrical wiring in the Palace of Electricity. This experience led him to found Underwriters Laboratories. In 1916, he served as the organization's first president.

William Henry Merrill also served as the National Fire Protection Association's secretary-treasurer from 1903 to 1909 and its president from 1910 to 1912.