Siemens Ernst-Werner, Walter and Otto

Siemens Ernst-Werner, Walter and Otto (1816-1892 • 1833-1868 • 1836-1871), German scientists, inventors and industrialists. The brothers Siemens were born in Lenthe, near Hannover, Germany.

Ernst-Werner was the member of the Berlin Academy of Science. He was instrumental in founding major electrotechnical concerns, which were owned by him. He graduated from the Berlin Specialized School of Artillery and Engineering. In 1842 he received his first patent In the field of electrical engineering. He took interest in producing the telegraph sets and building the telegraph transmission lines. In 1847 in cooperation with mechanical engineer Georg Halske he founded in Berlin a small enterprise ‘Siemens and Halske’ (later it expanded into a major production company ‘Siemens’). In 1860 Ernst-Werner initiated opening of the representation of ‘Siemens and Halske’ in Tbilisi, which was headed by Walter Siemens. In 1865 Ernst-Werner arrived in Tbilisi. In January of 1870 he opened in Tbilisi an India-Europe telegraph way station, which afforded the exchange of transit telegrams between Europe and Asian countries via Tbilisi. That made Tbilisi an important hub of telegraphic communications. In 1890 elderly Ernst-Werner, accompanied by his family, paid his third and last visit to Georgia, where his brothers – Walter and Otto lived. Ernst Werner wrote an autobiographic book My Recollections. In his book of memories he assigned special space to Georgia and Tbilisi.

Ernst-Werner von Siemens died in Berlin.

Walter - received the highest technical education in Metzendorf, Germany. He served as a representative of ‘Siemens and Halske’ in Vienna, Paris and Warsaw. In 1860 Walter arrived in Tbilisi and proceeded to set up the telegraph stations connecting Tbilisi with Gori, Surami, Kutaisi, Poti. In 1862, by the permission of Grigol Orbeliani, the local government and W. Siemens concluded a contract on mounting the telegraph stations connecting Tbilisi with Stavropol. In 1864 Walter installed telegraph sets in Julfa. This endeavor contributed to the exchange of international telegrams between Tbilisi and Tehran starting from 1865. In 1866 W. Siemens was appointed to the post of the Consul of Prussia in Tbilisi. W. Siemens was also conducive to establishing telegraph connection between Tbilisi and Baku. Georgian public held Walter Siemens in high respect as the person who established the first telegraph connections in Georgia and the Caucasus. He was acknowledged a “Father of Caucasian telegraph“. He lived in Tbilisi at No.30 Asatiani street.

W. von Siemens died in Tbilisi and was buried there.

Otto - graduated from the secondary school in Göttingen, Germany; he continued his studies in London, where he mastered the technology of metal melting. Following the advice of his elder brother Werner, he arrived in Tbilisi. In 1868, after the death of his brother Walter, he used to manage the office of ‘Siemens and Halske’ Company. At the same time he was assigned to the po- sition of the Consul of Prussia in Tbilisi.

Otto was engaged in oil extraction in Kakheti. He elaborated the projects of producing asphalt at the petroleum refinery and its application, system of supplying Tbilisi with water, setting up of its street lighting, etc. He actively participated in the work of the Caucasian branch of ‘Russian Technical Society’. O. Siemens was on friendly terms with local public figures; together with them he participated in charitable activity. In 1870 he married Annette von Kremer. He died a year later.

O. von Siemens was buried in Tbilisi.