Lee de Forest | |
|---|---|
 Lee de Forest c. 1904 | |
| Born | August 26, 1873 Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | June 30, 1961 (aged 87) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Yale College (Sheffield Scientific School) |
| Occupation | Inventor |
| Known for | Three-electrode vacuum-tube (Audion), sound-on-film recording (Phonofilm) |
| Spouses | Lucille Sheardown
(m. 1906; div. 1906)Mary Mayo
(m. 1912; div. 1923) |
| Awards | IEEE Medal of Honor (1922) Elliott Cresson Medal (1923) IEEE Edison Medal (1946) Audio Engineering Society Gold Medal Award (1955) |
Lee de Forest (August 26, 1873 – June 30, 1961) was an American inventor, electrical engineer and an early pioneer in electronics of fundamental importance. He invented the first practical electronic amplifier, the three-element "Audion" triode vacuum tube in 1906. This helped start the Electronic Age, and enabled the development of the electronic oscillator. These made radio broadcasting and long distance telephone lines possible, and led to the development of talking motion pictures, among 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.