Lee de Forest

LEE DE FOREST d1961. American inventor and a fundamentally important early pioneer in electronics. He invented the first electronic device for controlling current flow ; the three-element "Audion" triode vacuum tube in 1906. This started the Electronic Age and enabled the development of the electronic amplifier and oscillator. These made radio broadcasting and long distance telephone lines possible and led to the development of talking motion pictures, amongst countless other applications. He had over 300 patents worldwide, but also a tumultuous career. He boasted that he made, then lost, four fortunes. He was also involved in several major patent lawsuits, spent a substantial part of his income on legal bills and was even tried (and acquitted) for mail fraud. Despite this, he was recognised for his pioneering work with the 1922 IEEE Medal of Honor / the 1923 Franklin Institute Elliott Cresson Medal and the 1946 American Institute of Electrical Engineers Edison Medal. He died in Hollywood aged 87 on June 30th 1961