Julius Wilhelm Gintl

Julius Wilhelm Gintl ( born November 12, 1804 in Prague, † December 22, 1883 in Prague) was an Austrian physicist and engineer who was instrumental in setting up the Austrian telegraph network.

Gintl studied in Prague and Vienna. He was an associate professor in 1831 in Vienna and ordinary since 1836 Professor of Physics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Graz, where he also received in 1846 the chair of natural history. 1847 appointed one Gintl as k.k. Telegraphenbauinspektor to Vienna, where he supervised the installation and setup of the first Austrian telegraph lines and managed. He was appointed in 1850 to the Telegraph, Director at the Directorate General of communications for Austria. In this role, he pushed for the development of the Austrian telecommunications.

In 1849 he developed a portable telegraph device which could be used in trains. In 1853 he built a telegraph on the basis of galvanic elements. He also pointed to technical possibilities to carry on a telegraph line calls in both directions. For this he was awarded the large golden medal of honor at the Paris World Exhibition in 1855. He was a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna.

Julius Wilhelm Gintl died on 22 December 1883 in Prague.