George Westinghouse was an American inventor and industrialist born on October 6, 1846. He is best known for founding the Westinghouse Electric Company and for his significant contributions to the development of the alternating current (AC) electrical system. His innovations helped to make electricity more accessible and practical for widespread use. Westinghouse played a crucial role in the War of Currents, a competition between AC and Thomas Edison's direct current (DC) system. His advocacy for AC power ultimately led to its adoption as the standard for electrical transmission, revolutionizing the way electricity is generated and distributed across the world.