Guglielmo Marconi
Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) was an Italian inventor and physicist born on April 25th, 1874 in Bolognia, Italy. Marconi was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist/inventor for his work in wireless telegraphy in he which developed the first effective system of radio communication.
Early Life
Guglielmo was born in the small Italian town of Bolognia, Italy. He was the second and youngest son of Giuseppe Marconi and Annie Jameson. His father was a wealthy Italian landowner and his mother was Irish.
Marconi received a private education in Bologna & Florence. Throughout his bringing up, Guglielmo was highly interested in the properties of electricity. He would spend hours on hours reading scientific publications and reenacting the experiments. Instead of attending university, Marconi was able to study with Vincenzo Rosa, a professor of electrophysics. It was in this environment that Marconi was exposed to the works of Heinrich Hertz, James Clerk Maxwell, Oliver Joseph Lodge, and others conducting experiments to explain electromagnetic waves.
During a short period of time, Marconi was able to improve the Hertz apparatus substantially. He was able to the improve signal reading to receive signals from across rooms to across fields. By 1895, Marconi had achieved signal transmission and reception over a distance of 2000 meters; and by 1897, we well above 14000 meters. Marconi further developed his invention by experimenting with two hired ferry boats and then with a station set up on a mainland. All proved successful, Marconi was a soon to be genius.
Marconi's Radios
In late 1897, Marconi registered his company as Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company. After choosing Chelmsford, a nearby location to London, Marconi set up the world's first wireless factory in December of 1898. Marconi's company went over 5 name changes, including its merge with General Electric Company (GEC) in 1968. Today, the factory still stands and is called the Hall Street building. It is owned by Essex & Suffolk Water Company and Marconi Communications and Marconi Applied Technologies still have a strong presence in Chelmsford.
Saving Lives
Marconi's radios became quite popular for commercial ship telecommunication. In 1899, an East Goodwin lightship, which had been equipped with a Marconi wireless apparatus, had been rammed in dense fog by a steamship. It managed to send out a request for assistance all because of Marconi's highly functional apparatus. Again in 1909, the S.S. Republic was in a collision with an Italian steamer, the Florida. Using Marconi telecommunication, the radio operator of the 1,700 person ship was able to send out 200+ messages to help guide rescuing ships to their vulernable position. Ultimately, all passengers were rescued leaving only the ones killed by the impact of the collision. Lastly, more famously, Marconi also had an apparatus on the Titanic in 1912. Even though many died, many more survived because of the distress calls from the Marconi wireless equipment on board.
The Postmaster General gave his thanks to Marconi: "Those who have been saved have been saved through one man, Mr. Marconi and.....his wonderful invention."
Initial Success
In April of 1900, Marconi filed his famous '7777' patent. This was a unique patent in that it documented a system for "tuned coupled circuits and allowed simultaneous transmissions on different frequencies" (Columbia). In layman's terms, this device allowed for stations to operate independently without interfering with each other and also increased ranges.
By 1901, Marconi had achieved communication close to 200 miles. There was a lot of doubt and risk to achieve this endeavor however. Marconi needed to put up a lot of money up front and make sure everything lined up correctly in order to properly execute the experiment. In the end, they achieved huge success: the age of long distance communication was born.
This world achievement would later be recognized. In 1909, Marconi and Karl Braun were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering work in the development of wireless telegraphy.
Marconi's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
On December 10, 1909, Marconi delivered the following speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm:
- Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
- I thank Mr. Hildebrand for the very kind but too flattering remarks that he has made of myself and of my work in Wireless Telegraphy.
- I believe that one perhaps of the least thought of advantages enjoyed by the winner of the Nobel Prize is that he is asked to visit Sweden and thereby given an opportunity of appreciating the illustrious count of Linné, Schéele, Berzelius, and Arrhenius.
- Thanks to the high standing which science has for so long attain and to the impartiality of the Nobel Prize Committee, the Nobel Prize for Physics is rightly considered everywhere as the highest reward within the reach of workers in that branch of Natural Philosophy.
- I am also glad to have this opportunity of expressing my high appreciation of the honour extended to me many years ago by the Royal Swedish Academy of Science by enrolling me amongst its members. You will also allow me to thank the Academy for inviting me to lecture in Stockholm, for its hospitality, and for the opportunity afforded me for admiring the charm of your people and the beauty of your country.
- Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to ask you to drink to the health of Sweden and to the continued happiness and prosperity of the Swedish nation.
From Les Prix Nobel en 1909, Editor Carl Gustaf Santesson, [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 1910
Continued Success
Marconi had revolutionized wireless communication between commercial and naval ships as well as station communication. The next area he would influence was the public broadcasting industry. On June 15, 1920, Britain's first public broadcast program took place using a Marconi 15 kW telephone transmitter. This broadcast was a huge success and was heard across multiple countries. By the next year, Marconi's company was permitted to broadcast a regular entertainment program for a lower power transmitter in a different, more permanent location.
As a result of Marconi's rising success, others wanted to join. There were many competitors, all of which joined in 1922 to form what is known as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Marconi was no longer able to rule the market without any competition.
Marconi wasn't too interested in the television industry. So he eventually moved into other markets...
The "Beam System"
Marconi had a plan to connect the British Empire by a network of wireless communication stations. The project had been delayed due to war and political conflict. By 1924, Marconi was ready to implement once more. This time with a developed shortwave directional transmission. It was an enhanced version of his initial design because of its superior longwave high power system. This would be known as the "Beam System." The Beam System was adopted early on by Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India. Gradually, Marconi would also connect Argentina, Brazil, USA, and Japan.
Its competitor, The Imperial Wireless Chain, had only established connection for the Post Office. But it proved such a great threat to the Empire's cable interests, that in 1929, British and smaller governments formed their own entities to take over the investments, patents, and licenses of Marconi's Wireless Telegraphy Company.
End of the Marconi Chapter
Marconi permanently moved to Rome in 1935. He died on July 20, 1937 at the age of 63. In a fitting tribute, wireless stations throughout the world fell silent for 2 minutes and the ether was as silent as it had been before Marconi.
Marconi had revolutionized the world. His findings eventually lead to the creation of Transmitter Aerials for Chain Home (CH) stations, Britain's first air defense radar network.
Resources
1. http://www.famousscientists.org/guglielmo-marconi/ 2. http://www.britannica.com/biography/Guglielmo-Marconi 3. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Guglielmo_Marconi.aspx 4. http://www.seas.columbia.edu/marconi/history.html