Samuel H. Caldwell
Encyclopedia
Samuel Hawks Caldwell was an American
electrical engineer, known for his contributions to the early computers.
He completed all his degrees in electrical engineering
at MIT. His M.Sc. thesis was entitled Electrical characteristics and theory of operation of a dry electrolytic rectifier (1926). In his doctoral studies he worked on analog computers with Vannevar Bush
, developing the Differential Analyzer. His Sc.D., advised by Bush, was entitled The Extension and Application of Differential Analyzer Technique in the Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations (1933).
He then joined the faculty of the electrical engineering
department. During World War II
he was on the National Defense Research Committee
.
After the war, he led the MIT Center of Analysis, where he reluctantly gave way to digital computing by initiating the Rockefeller Electronic Computer (RED) and supporting the Project Whirlwind. The centre closed around 1950, after which Caldwell continued as a faculty member, being the advisor to both David A. Huffman
(1953) and Edward J. McCluskey
(1956).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electrical engineer, known for his contributions to the early computers.
He completed all his degrees in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
at MIT. His M.Sc. thesis was entitled Electrical characteristics and theory of operation of a dry electrolytic rectifier (1926). In his doctoral studies he worked on analog computers with Vannevar Bush
Vannevar Bush
Vannevar Bush was an American engineer and science administrator known for his work on analog computing, his political role in the development of the atomic bomb as a primary organizer of the Manhattan Project, the founding of Raytheon, and the idea of the memex, an adjustable microfilm viewer...
, developing the Differential Analyzer. His Sc.D., advised by Bush, was entitled The Extension and Application of Differential Analyzer Technique in the Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations (1933).
He then joined the faculty of the electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
department. 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...
he was on the National Defense Research Committee
National Defense Research Committee
The National Defense Research Committee was an organization created "to coordinate, supervise, and conduct scientific research on the problems underlying the development, production, and use of mechanisms and devices of warfare" in the United States from June 27, 1940 until June 28, 1941...
.
After the war, he led the MIT Center of Analysis, where he reluctantly gave way to digital computing by initiating the Rockefeller Electronic Computer (RED) and supporting the Project Whirlwind. The centre closed around 1950, after which Caldwell continued as a faculty member, being the advisor to both David A. Huffman
David A. Huffman
David Albert Huffman was a pioneer in computer science. He is well-known for his Huffman coding. David Huffman died at the age of 74 after a 10-month battle with cancer.-Education:...
(1953) and Edward J. McCluskey
Edward J. McCluskey
Edward J. McCluskey in Orange, New Jersey, is a Professor Emeritus at Stanford University. He is a pioneer in the field of Electrical Engineering.-Biography:...
(1956).
Publications
- William H. Timbie and Henry Harold Higbie and Caldwell, Essentials of alternating currents, WileyJohn Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 1939 - Electrical Engineering Research at M.I.T. : an appreciation MIT, 1948
- Analog and special purpose computing machines 1949
- Switching circuits and logical design, WileyJohn Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 1958.