Electricity was discovered through the work of various scientists, but not attributed to a single individual. One of the earliest recorded findings relating to electricity was by the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, around 600 BCE, who observed static electricity in amber. However, significant developments came later, including the experiments of Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, who demonstrated the electrical nature of lightning, and Alessandro Volta, who invented the first chemical battery. The systematic study and understanding of electricity evolved through contributions from many physicists over centuries, culminating in the foundational principles we recognize today.