How Did Stephen Gray Conceptualize Sending Electricity Through a Wire in 1729?

[genefalk]

I have read that in 1729 Stephen Gray, in addition to generating static charges, sends, for the first time, electricity through a wire and coins the words insulator and conductor.

What does he think he is sending though the wire, there is not yet a concept of atoms or electrons as we know them today?

 

[DrZoidberg]

He didn't know what exactly it was. Some mysterious substance known as electricity. It was often seen as some kind of invisible fluid.
If you want to get a better idea of how scientists back then thought about this subject you could look at some old texts.
e.g. this chapter in a book from the 18th century describing Mr. Gray's experiments.
Or this book consisting of letters written by Benjamin Franklin.

 

[phyzguy]

People sent water through a pipe before anyone knew about atoms. This is really no different.