Guglielmo Marconi

Fig 1 Guglielmo Marconi www.astrosurf.com

Guglielmo Marconi was an electrical engineer and shared Nobel prize winner (1909) often credited for being the inventor of the radio.

Marconi was a privately educated student, who reportedly has an interest in science and electricity from an early age and was known to study the works of Maxwell, Hertz, Righi and Lodge. Marconi experimented in his fathers laboratory with the goal to create a practical system of "wireless telegraphy." He eventually succeeded in sending wireless signals over one and a half miles.

In 1896 Marconi brought his work to England and was given the worlds first patent for his system of wireless telegraphy. In July 1897 he formed The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company Ltd. and in 1899 he established wireless communication between England and France over the English Channel.

He continued to develop and patent new inventions throughout 1902 - 1912 including transmitting the first complete messages to Poldhu from Nova Scotia.

Further significance of Marconis invention can be seen with its involvement on the RMS Titanic. Radio operators aboard the Titanic were employed by The Marconi International Marine Communication Company. During the sinking, wireless communications were reportedly maintained for 72 hours between the titanic and the rescuing ship. Britains postmaster General stated "Those who have been saved, have been saved through one man, Mr Marconi...and his marvelous invention".

In 1923 Marconi experimented with communication between his yacht and the Poldhu station which led to the establishment of the beam system for long distance communication.


Author Unknown (n.d.) Guglielmo Marconi Biography [online] available at: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1909/marconi-bio.html [last accessed on 18/11/2014]

Isted, GA (n.d.) Guglielmo Marconi and the History of Radio [online] available at: https://11bab91939e1120aa3c84de29125e7936127385c.googledrive.com/host/0B-UggpdTDpJEWnpUdGc5Tkw2aU0/p45.pdf [last accessed on 18/11/2014]

Fig. 1 Guglielmo Marconi (n.d.) [image online] available at: http://www.astrosurf.com/luxorion/Radio/marconi-spark-gap.jpg [last accessed on 18/11/2014]

CloudBiography (2012) Guglielmo Marconi Biography [video online] available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBM4oXboZBA [last accessed on 18/11/2014]