Famous Inventors Born in September!

Michael Faraday

Date of Birth: September 22, 1791

British physicist and chemist who is best known for his discoveries of electromagnetic induction and the laws of electrolysis. His biggest breakthrough in electricity was his invention of the electric motor.

• Electromagnetic Induction (1831): Faraday discovered that a changing magnetic field can induce an electric current in a conductor, leading to the development of the electric generator and transformer.
• Laws of Electrolysis (1830s): He formulated the laws of electrolysis, advancing the field of electrochemistry by explaining how electric currents drive chemical reactions.
• Faraday Cage (1836): Faraday invented the Faraday cage, a device that blocks external electric fields, widely used to protect electronic equipment.

William Le Baron Jenney

Date of Birth: September 25, 1832

American architect, considered the “father of the skyscraper“.

• Development of Steel-Frame Construction (1880s): Jenney is credited with designing the first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building in Chicago (1885). It was the first building to use a metal frame to support its weight, rather than relying solely on load-bearing walls. This innovation allowed for taller structures and more flexible design, laying the groundwork for modern skyscraper construction.

Paul MacCready

Date of Birth: September 25, 1925

American engineer who created the first human-powered flying machines and the first solar-powered aircraft to make sustained flights. 

• Human-Powered Flight (1977): MacCready designed the Gossamer Condor, the first successful human-powered aircraft, which won the Kremer Prize in 1977 for completing a figure-eight course.

• Solar-Powered Aircraft (1980s): He developed the Gossamer Albatross, which flew across the English Channel in 1979, and the Solar Challenger, the first solar-powered aircraft to make a long-distance flight, showcasing the possibilities of renewable energy in aviation.

Seymour R Cray

Date of Birth: September 28, 1925 

Inventor of the Cray I supercomputer.

• Development of Supercomputers (1960s-1990s): Cray founded Cray Research and designed some of the world’s first and most powerful supercomputers. His innovative designs, including the Cray-1 (1976), were known for their speed and processing power, making significant advances in fields requiring intensive computational capabilities, such as scientific research and weather modeling.
• Innovative Architecture: He pioneered advanced computing architectures like vector and parallel processing, greatly enhancing computing efficiency and speed.
• Legacy in Computing: Cray’s work laid the foundation for modern supercomputing, significantly advancing computational science and technology.