600 BCE — Thales of Miletus: Observed that rubbed amber attracts light objects (first record of static electricity).

1600 CE — William Gilbert: Coined the term "electric" (from Greek elektron = amber); distinguished magnetic from electric phenomena in De Magnete.

1785 — Charles-Augustin de Coulomb: Used a torsion balance to quantify the force between charges → Coulomb's law: F ∝ q_{1}q_{2}/$r^{2}$.

1833 — Michael Faraday: Introduced concept of electric field lines ("lines of force"); invented the Faraday cage (conductor shields interior from external fields).

1837 — Michael Faraday: Discovered dielectric effect — insulators between capacitor plates increase capacitance; introduced the term "dielectric."

1867 — James Clerk Maxwell: Formulated Gauss's law as one of four Maxwell's equations; introduced displacement current concept unifying electricity and optics.

1875 — Invention of practical capacitor (Leyden jar had existed since 1745, but modern capacitor theory formalized with Maxwell's equations).

1909 — Robert Millikan: Measured the elementary charge e = $1.6 \times 10^{-19}$ C via the oil drop experiment — first proof of charge quantization.

Modern Era — Capacitors in every electronic device; electrostatic precipitators in industry; MEMS sensors using capacitance change for acceleration measurement.