Unsung
Heroes of Engineering
Below is a list a list of men and women who have profoundly changed
our world, and have received little or no recognition for this.
Some of these individuals are well-known in technical circles, but unknown
to the public.
Distortion of facts over time: The public's view of the history
of electric power was been obscured by poorly researched media falsely
attributing Nikola Tesla to certain inventions. The Modern Marvels Series
on the History Channel, as well as others have often had trouble providing
accurate facts due to a rushed production schedule which is typical
of media in the private sector. Over time this mass media has distorted
public knowledge of the facts. If you are reading this page we thank
you for pursuing more depth in your understanding of electricity's wonderful
past!
Elihu
Thomson
- Pioneer of AC power generators in North America
-Holds over 900 patents in electrical technology (2nd only to Thomas
Edison at 1200+)
William
Stanley
- Inventor of the modern transformer (1886)
The transformer is a key component in AC power systems.
Charles
P. Steinmetz - Mathematician,
Pioneer of AC power
He is the only early electrical pioneer who really understood the science
of AC power in the 1890's.
Katherine
Burr Blodgett - Pioneer of thin film chemistry.
She has created the non-flective films that coat all eye glasses today.

Ernst F. Alexanderson - Pioneer
of Television and Radio
Alexanderson developed television broadcast as well as the first transcontinental
voice radio transmission system. He was famous in the 1910's and 20's
but his name has fallen into obscurity with time.

Robert
N. Hall - Pioneer in Semiconductors
"Bob" Hall invented
the semiconductor laser, the most commonly used laser today.
We will
include more names over time.