John Torrence Tate was born on July 28, 1889 in Iowa. John spent a majority of his early school years in New York. After graduating from Dewitt Clinton High School, John attended the University of Nebraska where he majored in physics. In 1910 he received his Bachelor of Science degree and in 1912 he received his Master of Arts degree. In 1914, John returned to the University of Nebraska to become a physics instructor after receiving his PhD from the University of Berlin. John Torrence Tate was a member of the American Physical Society, the Optical Society of America, the Acoustical Society of America, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the Society of Rheology. One of Johns notable contributions to physics was his accomplishments as a managing editor for the American Physical Society. After serving in World War I and World War II, he served as chairman for the Board of Governors of the Argonne National Laboratory from 1946 to 1949. On June 30, 1945, he married Madeline M. Mitchell who was the manager of publications for the American Institute of Physics. Throughout his lifetime, John Torrence Tate received many awards and high honors. He was president of the American Physical Society in 1939, elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Nebraska and from Case Institute of Technology, awarded the Medal of Merit by President Truman, and the King Georges Medal for service in the Cause of Freedom.