Ewald Georg von Kleist developed this system in Germany in 1744 . The Dutch scientist Pieter van Musschenbroek in Leiden ( Leyden ) about two years later . It was invented independently by German cleric Ewald Georg von Kleist on 11 October 1744 and by Dutch scientist Pieter van Musschenbroek of Leiden ( Leyden ) in 1745 â `` 1746 .