Willis R. Whitney

Willis R. Whitney
Whitney as a MIT faculty member
BornAugust 11, 1868
Jamestown, New York
DiedJanuary 9, 1958(1958-01-09) (aged 89)
Schenectady, New York
NationalityAmerican
EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology
Known forGeneral Electric Company
SpouseEvelyn Jones Whitney
ChildrenEvelyn Van Alstyne Schermerhorn
AwardsWillard Gibbs Award (1916)
Perkin Medal (1921)
IEEE Edison Medal (1934)
Public Welfare Medal (1937)
John Fritz Medal (1943)
IRI Medal (1946)
Scientific career
Fieldschemistry, inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry

Willis Rodney Whitney (August 22, 1868 – January 9, 1958) was an American chemist and founder of the research laboratory of the General Electric Company. He is known as the "father of industrial research" in the United States for blending the worlds of research and industry together; which at the time, were two very distinct careers.[1] He is also known for his corrosion theory of iron which he developed after studying at M.I.T. and the University of Leipzig.[1] Whitney was also a professor at M.I.T. for some time before his career transition into research directing. He received many awards, including the Willard Gibbs medal, the Franklin medal, the Perkin medal, the Edison medal, the John Fritz medal, the Chandler medal, and many others.[2] He was an astute believer in researching and experimenting for pleasure and voiced his belief at various science conferences.[3]

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