Electrical engineer. He was born in East Lothian, the son of a farmer who moved into the world of wireless telegraphy, came south to London, and set up his own firm of telegraphic engineers. He was always experimenting as when he planted a poker in a cabbage patch to see whether it would grow. Because of his deafness after a fall, he was considered backward and had a private tutor. But from 1863 he attended University College School in London and proved an outstanding pupil, taking many prizes in mathematics and science, and then studied natural sciences in St Bartholomew's Hospital laboratory, obtaining his DSc (in electricity) in 1872. While there he attached wires to a feverish patient's wrist to obtain a record of his heartbeat - he had recorded the first electrocardiogram. He became scientific adviser to his father's firm and after his father's death continued to manufacture cables himself. He became involved in the development of wireless after a lecture on Herzian waves by his friend Oliver Lodge in 1894. The Lodge-Muirhead Syndicate was formed in 1902 and the two men conducted many experiments between masts at Elmers End and Downe. In 1911, Marconi, who had a more developed business sense, still found it necessary to buy them out.
Electrical engineer. He was born in East Lothian, the son of a farmer who moved into the world of wireless telegraphy, came south to London, and set up his own firm of telegraphic engineers. He was always experimenting as when he planted a poker in a cabbage patch to see whether it would grow. Because of his deafness after a fall, he was considered backward and had a private tutor. But from 1863 he attended University College School in London and proved an outstanding pupil, taking many prizes in mathematics and science, and then studied natural sciences in St Bartholomew's Hospital laboratory, obtaining his DSc (in electricity) in 1872. While there he attached wires to a feverish patient's wrist to obtain a record of his heartbeat - he had recorded the first electrocardiogram. He became scientific adviser to his father's firm and after his father's death continued to manufacture cables himself. He became involved in the development of wireless after a lecture on Herzian waves by his friend Oliver Lodge in 1894. The Lodge-Muirhead Syndicate was formed in 1902 and the two men conducted many experiments between masts at Elmers End and Downe. In 1911, Marconi, who had a more developed business sense, still found it necessary to buy them out.
Bio by: julia&keld
Inscription
Doctor of Science University of London:
Fellow of the Royal Society
Highly esteemed and much beloved.
Family Members
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