Today in Technology History
(Published weekdays. To receive "Today in Technology History" by e-mail, click here. To read past issues, click here.)
June 2
A pioneer of radar was born exactly one century ago.
Robert Morris Page was born in Minnesota on June 2, 1903. Page went to Hamline University in his native state to study for the ministry -- he hoped to follow in the footsteps of his father, a Methodist minister -- but he switched majors to physics. He graduated in 1927, and spent the next four decades working in Washington, D.C., where he later got a master's degree, also in physics.
Page's most important contribution to radar came in the early 1930s, while employed as a fresh-faced researcher at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. There, Page worked with Leo Young, one of the original radar researchers who, back in 1922, had first discovered that radio waves could be used to detect objects. In 1934, Young realized that radio pulses would work better than radio waves, and Page used that idea to construct the first pulse radar system. By the end of 1934, Page and Young could use their pulse radar system to track planes in flight, and soon a similar system was designed for ships. In a few years, Page’s invention would prove vital to the Allied war effort.
Page also later developed an advanced radar system for zeroing in on targets, and he contributed to the radar system used in the Cold War to warn of incoming missile attacks. In total, Page was granted 75 patents. He also wrote a book, The Origin of Radar, in 1962.
By the time of his retirement in the 1960s, Page was the director of research at the Naval Research Laboratory. His work was recognized with several awards from the government, the Navy, and scientific societies.
Although Page chose a career in science over the ministry, he remained devoutly religious -- frequently leading Bible classes, and giving lectures about the relationship between science and religion. He died in 1992, just a few weeks shy of his 89th birthday.
Related links:
Click here, here and here to read what we've written about other radar pioneers.
Click here to read about other inventors from Minnesota.
| Biotechnology | Convergence | Creativity | Culture | E-conomics | Education |
| Equity | Gov't & Politics | Innovation | National Security | Personal Security |
For errors, broken links, questions or comments,
contact webmaster@tecsoc.org.
