Elihu Thomson was a prominent American electrical engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of AC power systems. Some synonyms for the name Elihu Thomson include electrical pioneer, inventor, engineer, and innovator. He was widely known for his research on the electrical conductivity of gases and was a pioneer in the field of vacuum technology. Elihu Thomson was also credited for inventing the first electric arc furnace, which ushered in the age of electric steelmaking. He earned numerous awards and honors during his lifetime, including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1975.