death_date death_place birth_place awards birth_date image article_title name occupation
march 14 , 1908 oakland , california vermilion , ohio elliott cresson medal -lrb- 1895 -rrb- september 5 , 1829 lesterallanpelton.jpg lester allan pelton
 lester allan pelton inventor
lester allan pelton

lester allan -lrb- or allen -rrb- pelton -lrb- september 5 , 1829 -- march 14 , 1908 -rrb- was an american inventor who contributed significantly to the development of hydro-power and hydroelectric power in the old west and world-wide .
in the late 1870s , he invented the '' pelton water wheel '' , at that time the most efficient design of the impulse water turbine .
recognized as one of the fathers of hydroelectric power , he was awarded the elliott cresson medal during his lifetime and recently was inducted into the national inventors hall of fame .
