Elmer Ambrose Sperry Sr. | |
|---|---|
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| Born | October 12, 1860 |
| Died | June 16, 1930 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Cornell University |
| Known for | gyroscopic compasses |
| Spouse | Zula Augusta Goodman (1860–1929) (m. 1887–1929) |
| Children | Helen M. Sperry (1889–Oct 1977) Edward Goodman Sperry (1890–1945) [1] Lawrence Burst Sperry (1892–1923) Elmer Ambrose Sperry, Jr. (1894–1968) [2] |
| Parent(s) | Stephen Decatur Sperry (1825–1889) Mary Burst (1839–1860) |
| Awards | John Fritz Medal (1927) Elliott Cresson Medal (1929) |
| Signature | |
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Elmer Ambrose Sperry Sr. (October 12, 1860 – June 16, 1930) was an American inventor and entrepreneur, most famous for construction, two years after Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe, of the gyrocompass and as founder of the Sperry Gyroscope Company.[3] He was known as the "father of modern navigation technology".[4]
Sperry's compasses and stabilizers were adopted by the United States Navy and used in both world wars. He also worked closely with Japanese companies and the Japanese government and was honored after his death with a volume of reminiscences published in Japan.[5]
- ^ "Edward G. Sperry, An Industrialist. Executive of Products Firm He Founded With Father, the Gyroscope Inventor, Dies. Designed Ship Stabilizers. Held Several Directorships". The New York Times. November 8, 1945. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
Edward Goodman Sperry, vice president, treasurer and a director of Sperry Products, Inc., Hoboken, ...
- ^ "Elmer Sperry Jr., Inventor, Was 74. Son of the Founder of Gyroscope Company Dies". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 24, 1968. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
Elmer Ambrose Sperry, Jr., a pioneer in gyroscope development and son of the founder of the Sperry Gyroscope Company, died here Saturday at the age ... He was born May 9, 1894, in Cleveland, a son of Elmer Sperry, Sr. and Zula ...
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
obitwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Who Made America: Elmer Sperry". PBS.
- ^ Durgin, Russell and Kawaguchi, Zenichi, "Dr. Sperry As We Knew Him" (1931, Nichi-Bei Press). This volume of reminiscences by the Japanese engineers and diplomats who knew him was published in a bilingual text.