Joseph Henry. Pioneer of electromagnetism, motors, generators and telegraph, The accomplishments and life of Joseph Henry, Jr. (1797-1878). Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday are the founding fathers of the electrical industry and electrical technology.Electric motors, generators, transformers, radio and the telegraph all function on electromagnetic principles discovered by these men who worked on opposite sides of the Atlantic.oseph Henry. Pioneer of electromagnetism, motors, generators and telegraph, The accomplishments and life of Joseph Henry, Jr. (1797-1878). Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday are the founding fathers of the electrical industry and electrical technology.