William Willett
English inventor of British Summer Time

Born
August 10th, 1856
168 years ago
Died
March 4th, 1915
110 years ago — 58 years old
Category
Scientists & Innovators
Country
United Kingdom
Links & References
An English inventor proposed the concept of daylight saving time, which later became known as British Summer Time. Willett published a pamphlet in 1907 titled 'The Waste of Daylight' that outlined the benefits of shifting the clock forward in spring and back in autumn. The proposal aimed to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer. Despite the initial resistance, the idea gained traction and was eventually implemented during World War I in 1916 for energy conservation. Willett's advocacy for this change significantly influenced time management practices in various countries.
Established the concept of daylight saving time
Published 'The Waste of Daylight' in 1907
Contributed to the introduction of British Summer Time
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