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He was born in China-Amoy -
Earned his B.S. degree in physics and mathematics at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.
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Earned his M.A. degree from the University of Oregon
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He earned his Ph.D. degree in physics at the University of Minnesota, worked at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. then was hired by Bell Telephone Laboratories -
"During World War II Brattain devoted his time to developing methods of submarine detection under a contract with the National Defense Research Council at Columbia University" (biography, 1).
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He returned to Bell Laboratories and then joined the semiconductor division of the newly-organized Solid State Department of the laboratories.
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"Brattain constructed the two contacts by wrapping gold tape around the point of a wedge of polystyrene and scraping the gold away from the point of the wedge. The wedge was then pressed against a block of n-type germanium...the device was incorporated into a small amplifier that had a gain of more than 18 and good frequency response" (Biography, 2). -
After the invention being complete, a week later the amplifier was shown to the staff of Bell Laboratories and was approved. They held off the public announcement until June,1948. -
For his invention, Brattain had also received the Stuart Ballantine Medal.
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Dr. Brattain received the honorary Doctor of Science degree from Portland University in 1952
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Following his Stuart Ballantine Medal he then also received the John Scott Medal. -
He also received the honorary Doctor of Science degree from Whitman College and Union College.
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Brattain along with Bardeen, and Shockley got awarded the1956 Nobel Prize in Physics for their invention. -
Again, Brattain received the honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota
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Brattain was then elected to the National Academy of Sciences
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Brattain continued his path at Bell Laboratories with semiconductor research until he retired in 1967
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Brattain died in Seattle on October 13, 1987