Guglielmo Marconi

Biography

Abstract

Guglielmo Marconi was awarded the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work alongside Karl Ferdinand Braun "in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy." His various inventions pushed the boundaries of wireless communications across great distances and created a foundation for wireless communications such a telegraphy and radio. He holds the famous patent No. 7777 for syntonic telegraphy.

Important Dates

April 25, 1874Birth, Bologna (Italy).

1895First began conducting experiments with wireless signals, Bologna (Italy).

1896Demonstrates wireless signals advancements upon moving to London, London (England).

1897Forms The Wireless Telegraph Company Limited (later renamed Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company Limited).

1897Demonstrates wireless signal capabilities to Italian government.

1899Wireless communication established across the English Channel.

1900Takes patent No. 7777 for tuned or syntonic telegraphy.

1901Sends wireless signals 2100 miles from Poldhu, Cornwall to St. John's, Newfoundland, proving that signals could be sent around the earth's curvature.

1902Demonstrates "daylight effect" relative to wireless communication.

1902Transmitted first complete message from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.

1902Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy.

1903Awarded the freedom of the city of Rome, Italy.

1905Patented horizontal directional aerial.

1909Awarded 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Ferdinand Braun "in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy".

1912Patented a timed spark system for generating continuous waves.

1914Lieutenant and Captain, Italian army.

1914Senatore, Italian Senate.

1914Honorary Knight, Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, England.

1916Commander, Italian Navy.

1917Member of Italian government mission to US.

1919Italian plenipotentiary delegate, Paris Peace Conference.

1919Awarded Italian Military Medal for military service.

1922Predicts the coming of radar and its uses at the American Institute of Radio Engineers.

1923Resumed experiements with shortwave signals.

1929Received hereditary title of Marchese.

1930President, Royal Academy of Italy.

1932Created first microwave radiotelephone link between Vatican City and Castel Gandalfo.

July 20, 1937Death, Rome (Italy).

Occupation

Engineer and inventor.

Places

Birth

Bologna (Italy)

Undergraduate Education

Bologna (Italy)

Employment

London (England)

Death

Rome (Italy)

Subjects

Electromagnetism.

Relationships

People

Family

Bezzi-Scali, Maria Cristina

Second wife, married 1927.

Jameson, Annie

Mother.

Marconi, Degna

Daughter.

Marconi, Elettra

Daughter.

Marconi, Gioia

Daughter.

Marconi, Giuseppe

Father.

O'Brien, Beatrice

First wife, married 1905.

Advisors & Collaborators

Braun, Ferdinand, 1850-1918

Shared 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics "in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy."

Jameson, Davis

Cousin and engineer. Assisted Marconi in obtaining his first patent and starting his telegraph company.

Preece, William Henry, 1834-1913

Engineer-in-Chief of Post Office and collaborated with Marconi on developing first wireless telegraphy apparatus.

Additional

Armstrong, Edwin H. (Edwin Howard), 1890-1954

Bell, Alexander Graham

De Forest, Lee, 1873-1961

Dunlap, Orrin Elmer

Fessenden, Reginald Aubrey

Fleming, J. A. (John Ambrose), Sir

Gentile, Giovanni, 1875-1944

Hertz, Heinrich, 1857-1894

Jones, H. Spencer (Harold Spencer), 1890-1960

Leveranz, Humboldt Walter

Lodge, Oliver, Sir, 1851-1940.

Maxwell, James Clerk, 1831-1879

Occhialini, Giuseppe, 1907-1993

Woodyard, John R., 1904-1981

Institutions

Major Positions

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company

Owner and Founder.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Institute of Radio Engineers

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Guglielmo Marconi correspondence.

Marconi and GEC Archives

GEC Corporations

Marconi Place, Great Baddow near Chelmsford, England

Subject

Accademia nazionale delle scienze detta dei XL records, 1782-1945.

Accademia nazionale delle scienze detta dei XL

Palazzo della Civilta del Lavoro, Quadrato della Concordia, 00144 Rome

Alexander Graham Bell family papers, 1834-1974.

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA

Archivio Gentile papers, 1925-1943.

Dipartimento di Fisica

Università di Roma "La Sapienza"

Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy

Burndy Library miscellaneous collections[microform], circa-1700 1950.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Edwin H. Armstrong papers, 1890-1954.

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Columbia University

Butler Library, 6th Floor East, New York, NY 10027, USA

Guglielmo Marconi papers, 1930-1938.

Biblioteca Corsiniana

Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei

Via della Lungara, 10,00100 Rome

J. A. Fleming papers, 1856-1939.

Archive

University College of London

Gower Street, London WCIE 6BT

Lee De Forest papers, 1884-1955.

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA

Marconi family correspondence.

In private hands

Oral history interview with Giuseppe Occhialini,1971 April 5, 6, May 16, 17, and November 18.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Humboldt Walter Leverenz, 1979 July 10.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with John R. Woodyard, 1976 August 27.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Orrin Elmer Dunlap collection on radio and television history,1897-1970.

Special Collection Library, Case Library

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY 13346-1398, USA

Pais Prize Session - Some History You Won't Find in Physics Textbooks [sound recording], 2016April 18.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Reginald Fessenden papers, 1887-1935.

North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

North Carolina State Archives

Raleigh, NC 27611, USA

Royal Observatory papers of Harold Spencer Jones, 1920-1968.

Archives Department of Manuscripts

Royal Greenwich Observation Archives

Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR, England UK

Sir Oliver Lodge papers, 1883-1930.

Archives Dept.

Institution of Engineering and Technology

Savoy Place, London WC2R OBL, England

Published Resources

Subject

Guglielmo Marconi Nobel Prize biography.

My father, Marconi / [edited and revised] by Susanne Gleaves and Lael Wertenbaker.