Marconi

Birth

Apr 25, 1874

Born in Bologna, Italy. Second son of Giuseppe Marconi, an Italian country gentleman, and Annie Jameson. It's a boy!

Life

Period: Apr 25, 1874 to Jul 20, 1937

Lived to be 63

School Begins

Sep 1, 1880

Privately educated in Bologna, Florence, and Leghorn. Studied Maxwell, Hertz, Righi, and Lodge. Was interested in physical and electrical science from a young age. Date Approximated.

First Laboratory Experiments

Mar 13, 1895

Worked at his father's country estate at Pontecchio; sent wireless signals 1.5 miles away. Could have thrown a note that far, radio signals simply a formality.

Met Sir William Preece in England

Apr 1, 1896

He had brought his apparatus there. Who remembers Sir William Preece? Anyone?

Recieves the World's First Patent For a System of Wireless Telegraphy

Oct 4, 1896

Disputed over for decades. Did Marconi really come up with anything new, or did he merely combine the old?

Wireless Signals Sent 12+ Miles

May 13, 1897

Over 12 miles, now we're getting somewhere!

Forms The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company Limited

Jul 15, 1897

Later renamed Marconi's Wireless Telegraph And Signal Company Limited when they figured his name would sell.

Wireless Communication Between France and England

Mar 27, 1899

Also established wireless stations at The Needles, Isle of Wight, at Bournemouth and later at the Haven Hotel, Poole, Dorset.

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company Limited (renamed)

Feb 4, 1900

Marconi's head inflated and pride finally took over.

Wireless Signals Sent 2100 Miles

Dec 12, 1901

Marconi was determined to prove that wirless signals were not affected by the curvature of the Earth. He sent signals from Cornwall to St John's, Newfoundland.

Commander

Jan 1, 1902

King of Italy created him Commander of the ORder of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, and awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy.

Sent Signals 1500-2000 Miles from SS Philadelphia

Feb 10, 1902

First signals sent from a ship.

Magnetic Detector Patented

Feb 13, 1902

Detector which became the standard wireless receiver for many years. Many years.

Decorated by Czar of Russia

Dec 25, 1902

Russia? What a traveler.

Become Chevalier of the Civil Order of Savoy

Jul 7, 1905

Good for him.

Horizontal Directional Aerial Patented

Sep 5, 1905

Cool

First Translantic Commercial Service

Feb 13, 1907

Established between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and Clifden, Ireland

Receives Nobel Prize for Physics

Mar 31, 1909

Shared with fellow Professor Karl Brawn, who happened to have massive guns.

"Timed Spark" Patented

Jan 16, 1912

This was a system that contiuously generated waves

Commissioned into Italian Army

Feb 13, 1914

Began as a Lieutenant and eventually became a Captain

Becomes a Senator for Italy

Apr 8, 1914

Became Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order of England

Nov 27, 1914

Mouthful.

Transferred into Navy as a Commander

Aug 16, 1916

Must have gotten bored with the Army.

Awarded Italian Military Medal

Apr 1, 1919

In recognition of his war service in World War I. Unfortunately the date suggests this may have been a joke.

Beam System Established

May 27, 1923

Used for long distance communications for the up and rising long distance relationships. Or not.

Radio Used for Imperial Communication

Feb 14, 1926

Accepted by the British Government, linking England and Canada. Happy Valentine's Day, eh?

Receives Hereditary Title of Marchese

May 25, 1929

Not to be confused with Mar-cheese.

First Microwave Radiotelephone Link

Mar 19, 1932

First put to use between the Vatican City and the Pope, calling from his summer home in Castel Gandalfo. Supposedly to brag.

Microwave Radio Beacon Assists Ships in Navigation

Sep 21, 1935

Microwave used to cook TV dinners. Sailors have an inability to navigate on an empty stomach.

Marconi Dies

Jul 20, 1937

That's all, folks!