Harold McMaster

Harold A. McMaster
Born(1916-07-20)July 20, 1916
Deshler, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 25, 2003(2003-08-25) (aged 87)
Perrysburg, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)Inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur
Known forToughened glass
SpouseHelen Clark

Harold A. McMaster (July 20, 1916 – August 25, 2003) was an inventor with over 100 patents and entrepreneur who founded four companies. Fortune Magazine called him "The Glass Genius".[1] He also worked on developing commercial-scale solar cell technology and developed a new type of engine, the "McMaster Rotary Engine."

McMaster was an inventor early on. His father gave him a set of tools at age 6. By 8, he had built a set of farm machinery, by 10, a threshing machine that husked corn, and by 12 he was making car motors.[1]

Following his graduation from Ohio State with a combined master's degree in physics, mathematics, and astronomy in 1939, McMaster worked as the first research physicist ever employed by the Libbey Owens Ford Glass in Toledo, Ohio.[2] He received his first patent during World War 2 (WWII) for a periscope used by fighter pilots to see behind them.[3]

  1. ^ a b HAROLD A. MCMASTER, 1916-2003: Inventor became philanthropist Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, obituary, Article published August 26, 2003, Toledo Blade
  2. ^ The Founding Family, McMaster School for Advancing Humanity
  3. ^ Harold McMaster Archived July 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine