Clark Blanchard Millikan
Encyclopedia
Clark Blanchard Millikan (August 23, 1903- January 2, 1966) was a distinguished professor of aeronautics
at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech), and a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
.
Millikan was the oldest child of noted physicist Robert A. Millikan and Greta Erwin Blanchard. He attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
, graduated from Yale College
in 1924, then earned his PhD in physics and mathematics at Caltech in 1928 under Professor Harry Bateman
. He became a professor upon receiving his degree, full professor of aeronautics in 1940, and Director of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory in 1949.
His first major engineering work began with the construction of large wind tunnels, particularly the Southern California Cooperative Wind Tunnel in Pasadena, which was shared by five major aircraft companies. Caltech wind tunnels were subsequently used during the design phase of more than 600 types of aircraft and missiles.
He was active in the formation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
during World War II
, and served as chairman of Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory committee from 1949 onwards. He also taught first college course in rocket propulsion in the United States. He authord "Aerodynamics of the Airplane".
Millikan received both the Medal for Merit from the U.S. President and the British government's King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom
for his World War II
work in aeronautics and ballistic missiles. He also served as a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, Naval Research Advisory Committee
, Defense Science Board
, and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Army Ballistic Research Laboratory. He was a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
of Great Britain, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, and the American Physical Society
, and an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(having served as president of its predecessor, the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, in 1937). He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 1964 and was a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
.
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech), and a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.
Millikan was the oldest child of noted physicist Robert A. Millikan and Greta Erwin Blanchard. He attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools is a private, co-educational day school in Chicago, Illinois. It is affiliated with the University of Chicago...
, graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1924, then earned his PhD in physics and mathematics at Caltech in 1928 under Professor Harry Bateman
Harry Bateman
Harry Bateman FRS was an English mathematician.-Life and work:Harry Bateman first grew to love mathematics at Manchester Grammar School, and in his final year, won a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge. There he distinguished himself in 1903 as Senior Wrangler and by winning the Smith's Prize...
. He became a professor upon receiving his degree, full professor of aeronautics in 1940, and Director of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory in 1949.
His first major engineering work began with the construction of large wind tunnels, particularly the Southern California Cooperative Wind Tunnel in Pasadena, which was shared by five major aircraft companies. Caltech wind tunnels were subsequently used during the design phase of more than 600 types of aircraft and missiles.
He was active in the formation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and served as chairman of Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory committee from 1949 onwards. He also taught first college course in rocket propulsion in the United States. He authord "Aerodynamics of the Airplane".
Millikan received both the Medal for Merit from the U.S. President and the British government's King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom
King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom
The King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom is a British medal instituted by the The Sovereign, on 23 August 1945. Its was to recognize civilian foreign nationals, mainly of allied countries, who had given meritorious service to further the interests of the British Commonwealth or the...
for his World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
work in aeronautics and ballistic missiles. He also served as a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, Naval Research Advisory Committee
Naval Research Advisory Committee
The Naval Research Advisory Committee is a civilian advisory committee to the United States Navy.The committee was established in 1946 by Public Law 588, which also created the Office of Naval Research...
, Defense Science Board
Defense Science Board
The Defense Science Board is a committee of civilian experts appointed to advise the U.S. Department of Defense on scientific and technical matters...
, and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Army Ballistic Research Laboratory. He was a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
of Great Britain, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, and the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
, and an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
(having served as president of its predecessor, the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, in 1937). He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1964 and was a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.