In 1881, Alexander Stoletov represented Russian science at the first International Electrical Congress in Paris. This International Congress was a series of meetings held between 1881 and 1904, and the first meeting was initiated by the government of France. Both French and international experts were invited to participate. One of the main objectives of the congress was to establish standardized units of electrical measurement. This was an urgent task, as prior to the congress, specialists used 12 different units for electromotive force, ten units for electric current, and 15 units for resistance.

Alexander Stoletov made significant contributions to the establishment of measurement units. For example, it was at his suggestion that the unit of electrical resistance — the ohm — was adopted, as well as a resistance standard. During the electrical exhibition that was held concurrently with the congress, Stoletov was elected Vice-President of the Commission responsible for conducting expert assessments of various devices at the exhibition.

The Legion of Honor is a national order of France, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Based on ancient orders of chivalry, it was instituted as a public organization to unite the most deserving citizens of the republic who had rendered significant services, both military and civil. The order has five classes: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight. Stoletov was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1882 for his contribution to the International Electrical Congress held in 1881.

Other prominent Russians who were awarded the highest level of the order, the Grand Cross, were adjutant generals, infantry generals Mikhail Dragomirov and Nikolai Obruchev, military ministers Dmitry Milyutin and Pyotr Vannovsky, as well as Privy Councilor and Finance Minister Sergei Witte.