Willis R. Whitney

Willis Rodney Whitney 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. He is also known for his corrosion theory of iron which he developed after studying at M.I.T. and the University of Leipzig. 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. He was an astute believer in researching and experimenting for pleasure and voiced his belief at various science conferences.

22 August 1868

Born on the same birth day (22 August): Annie Proulx • Bill Woodfull • Clint Bolton • Harishankar Parsai • Henri Cartier-Bresson • James Hillier • James Kirke Paulding • LaMelo Ball • Luke Russert • Melinda Page Hamilton

Born in the same month (August 1868): Bernarr Macfadden • Constantine I of Greece • Edgar Lee Masters • Ellen Roosevelt • Hong Beom-do • Hugo Eckener • Huntley Wright • Ladislaus Bortkiewicz • Master C. V. V. • Oskar Merikanto • Paul Claudel