Comment by timid_oshima

That sounds a bit early - whats your source? This one says at least mid 19th century for not practical electric lights https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-light-bulb

But either way, is knowing the electron knowing electricity? There are so many properties of it that can be known and manipulated without that insight- and indeed they built up that understanding to reach practical engineering and use of electricity. That’s what I think is being gotten at wrt intelligence.

“Knowing” something isn’t necessarily about being aware of its smaller parts.