Charles Gordon Curtis began his career as a patent lawyer, founding his own firm before becoming an inventor who transformed the steam power industry. Born in Boston in 1860, he collaborated with Charles Crocker before launching Curtis Electric Manufacturing Co., where he developed the Curtis steam turbine. Patented in 1891, the turbine caught the attention of General Electric, which acquired the rights in 1896. Curtis then joined GE in 1897 to refine the technology for commercial use, leaving a lasting impact on power generation. He passed away on March 10, 1953, in New York.