Antenna Measurement Techniques Association

POSTER PAPER

October 22-25, 2001

1

Who Was The Real Dr. Nikola Tesla?
(A Look At His Professional Credentials)
byW.C. Wysock*, J.F. Corum, J.M. Hardesty** and K.L. Corum“We think of his contribution much oftener than that of Ampere and Ohm . . . the induction motor and our power systemare enduring monuments to Nikola Tesla.” Dr. E.F.W. Alexanderson1(keywords: electrical history)

Unlike with so many narrowly specialized

journals, societies and even “web-rings” have been

pioneers in electrical history, the query as to whocreated as media exclusively devoted to theNikola Tesla really was has many responses,

discussion of his activities. While volumes could

depending upon the perspective of the questioner.

(and have) been written about the gentleman, theDespite the fact that many of his technicalpresent authors will view his work from ourpublications are still accessible, that several

perspectives as scientists and engineers.

biographies are available, and that he has had aTesla received his formal education at therather widespread impact (not only upon thePolytechnicInstituteat

electrical engineering profession but also society atmatriculated

withdegreeslarge) few people today actually have a balanced

mechanical engineering and electrical engineering)grasp of who he was and what he did.

and at the University of Prague (where he performed

This isGraz,
inAustria(hemathematics,particularly true of his seminal contributions to RF

graduate studies in Physics).

technology. A remarkable number of items haveprofessional practice at Budapest (where, in 1882,

been composed for the general public about Tesla -he conceived the idea of a rotating magnetic field toprobably as many as any other single scientist indrive electrical machinery), Strasbourg (where hehistory. (There exist TV specials, plays, recitals,constructed the first polyphase motor), and Paris, hepoetry, and even award winning popular songs

immigrated to the US at age 28 in 1884. With his

about the man.) An annotated Tesla bibliography

discovery of the rotating magnetic field and thewas published twenty-two years ago that contained

publication of his celebrated 1888 paper on a newover 3,000 references (and the number has grownsystem of AC motors and transformers, his position

2in the history of electrical science and technology

dramatically since then).

Several magazines,

After a period of

was forever established.3 After showering words of* Tesla Technology Research, Inc., 2527 Treelane Ave.,
Monrovia, CA 91016-4951 (email: Wysock@ttr.com)** PV Scientific Instruments, Inc., 309 Second St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850 (email: pvsci@arcsandsparks.com)

praise upon the inventor before a meeting of theRoyal Society in London in 1892, Lord RayleighAntenna Measurement Techniques Association

POSTER PAPER

declared that Tesla possessed a great gift forelectrical discovery.

By 1896, at the Franklin

October 22-25, 2001

functionwithout

Tesla'sfirst2andgreatest

8contributions.”

Institute in Philadelphia, Lord Kelvin would say,

However, most electrical engineers are“Tesla has contributed more to electrical science
than any man up to his time.” His fundamental

unaware that, as late as 1943, on the basis of his“Apparatus” patents, he (not Marconi‡) was

discoveries and creations span basic science,

recognized by the US Supreme Court as having

systems, technology and components. He was one

priority in the invention of “Radio”.9,10,11,12 Evenof the earliest scientists to grasp the distinction

fewer computer scientists are aware that, whenbetween lumped and distributed resonance and,certain computer manufacturers attempted to patent

after conferring in 1892 with Heinrich Hertz atdigital logic gates after World War II, the US PatentBonn,

voltage

Office asserted Tesla's (turn of the century) priority

magnification by standing waves on distributedin the electrical implementation of logic gates forheresonators.

4,5wasthefirsttopatent(The technique would subsequently be6

securecommunications,controlsystems,

andused by David Sloan, E.O. Lawrence, and Louisrobotics.

Alvarez in the evolutionary development of modern

logic was unable to be privately secured in the7particle accelerators. )As a result, a monopoly on electronic

1950's.

The MKS unit of magnetic induction wasWriting in the massive 50th anniversary

adopted in honor of Tesla in 1956. It is common

issue of the Proceedings of the IRE, R.M. Page

knowledge among power engineers that he was theidentifies Dr. Tesla as the first who “... suggested

inventor of the rotating magnetic field, the induction

the use of electromagnetic waves to determine themotor, and the AC polyphase power distribution
system* currently used throughout the civilized

relative position, speed, and course of a movingworld.†that Tesla, in 1900, was the earliest to propose theHaraden Pratt, IRE President, and later

object,”13 and it now seems to be broadly recognized

Chairman of the IRE History Committee, once

modern concept of radar.14

wrote, “Our existing industrial era would cease tointerview with H. Winfield Secor15 appears in the* Concerning the polyphase AC system, Bernard
Behrend, Vice President of the AIEE, has said, “Notsince the appearance of Faraday's Experimental
Researches in Electricity has a great experimental truth
been voiced so simply and so clearly . . . He [Tesla] left
nothing to be done by those who followed him.”(Minutes of the May 1917 AIEE meeting.)† Dr. Charles F. Scott, past President of the AIEE (nowthe IEEE) and Chairman of the Electrical Engineering
Department at Yale University, has said, “The evolutionof electric power from the discovery of Faraday in 1831
to the initial great installation of the Tesla polyphasesystem in 1896 [at Niagara Falls] is undoubtedly the mosttremendous event in all engineering history.” [ElectricalEngineering, August, 1943, pp. 351-355.]

radar lore.16,17
remotefrequency

Certainly, Tesla's

He bears legal priority in radio

control,

experimental

division
18communication.

robotics,multiplexedandsecure

The multistage, cascade voltage‡ Although it took the courts several decades to settle
this, the facts were well understood by impartial technicalmen of the day. Robert H. Marriott, the first President of
the IRE (1912), once said that Marconi had “... played thepart of a demonstrator and sales engineer. A money
getting company was formed, which in attempting toobtain a monopoly, set out to advertise to everybody thatMarconi was the inventor and that they owned that patent
on wireless which entitled them to a monopoly.” [RadioBroadcast, Vol. 8, No. 2, December, 1925, pp. 159-162.]

Antenna Measurement Techniques Association

POSTER PAPER

October 22-25, 2001

3

multiplier technique (“charging condensers infrom such diverse institutions as Columbia, Yale,

parallel and discharging them in series”), laterand the Universities of Paris, Vienna, Prague, Sofia,

embellished by Greinacher (1920), and Cockcroft

and many, many more.
Recently, another fascinating fact aboutand Walton (1932), with a variant patented inEurope by Marx (1923), was patented in the US by19

Tesla in 1897.

During the 1984 IEEE centennial,Nikola Tesla has come to light.

After all theseyears, it is now documented that he was nominatedCommittee

for an undivided Nobel Prize in Physics in 1937.23

identified Nikola Tesla among the “twelve apostles”(Tesla's nominator, Dr. Felix Ehernhaft, of Vienna,20

had been one of those that nominated Albert

theIEEE

Professionalof electrical engineering.

Activities
Fromtheearly

AIEE Transactions we see that Tesla regularlyEinstein for the Nobel Prize in 1921.)

attended AIEE meetings and frequently participatedTesla possessed a remarkable talent forin lengthy discussions at the close of the paper

charming and astonishing his admirers while at thepresentations.

He was selected to represent thesame time enraging his critics. (The phenomenon

AIEE at the Electrical Congress held in Frankfort incontinues to the present day.) It is unfortunate that,

1892, and it was at this time that he traveled to Bonndespite the fact that several popular biographies areto confer with Heinrich Hertz about wirelesscurrently available, there still exists no definitive

research.

Tesla served the electrical engineeringformal authority (other than his own scatteredprofession in its highest offices. In the early 1890's,

publications) to consult on the technical issues of his

he was elected as vice-president of what is now theintriguing and colorful scientific career. Tesla wasIEEE.

(At the time of his election, Alexander

esteemed by his peers as a first class man of science.

Graham Bell presided over the AIEE. Both Bell andThose misunderstanding his professional stature

Tesla would later receive the AIEE's highest award

should carefully consider the respect and admirationof honor.) Tesla served two consecutive years asconferred by the foremost living scientists of his

vice-president of the AIEE. The first book written

own era (Kelvin, Helmholtz, Crookes, Dewer,

about Tesla was a collection of his public lectures,

Rutherford; Noble Prize winners: Rayleigh, Bragg,

and it was edited and published by the third

Bohr, Millikan, Einstein, Compton, Appleton; andPresident of the AIEE (Thomas Commerford

many21othersincludinguniversity

presidents,

It should also be noted that Tesla wasmembers of the defense community, and evenelected as a full Fellow of the AIEE (now thescientific advisors to the President of the UnitedIEEE), as well as the American Association for theStates). It is impossible to adequately address Dr.

Advancement of Science, and a dozen other

Tesla's professional credentials or accomplishments

professional societies.

He was honored by thein this brief space. But, it can be said with certainty

Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften in Berlin,that no one since Dr. Franklin§ has so stirred theand the President of the (British) IEE once said,

scientific and engineering world.

Martin).

“Tesla was the greatest electrical inventor we haveever had on our role of membership.”22 He received
over 13 honorary degrees (Doctorates and so forth)§Benjamin Franklin and Nikola Tesla both share honors
from Yale, the Royal Society (London), and theAmerican Philosophical Society.

Antenna Measurement Techniques Association

POSTER PAPER

October 22-25, 2001

4NIKOLA TESLA
1856 - 1943

EDUCATION: Undergraduate Studies - Austrian Polytechnic Institute at Graz: Separate
Baccalaureate degrees in Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering.
Graduate Studies - University of Prague: Physics.

DOCTEUR HONORIS CAUSA: University of Paris, Columbia University, Vienna Polytechnic
Institute, University de Poitiers, University of Beograd, Graz Polytechnic Institute, University ofBrno, Yale University, University of Zagreb, Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, University ofGrenoble, University of Sophia, University of Prague.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: Vice-President of the AIEE (now IEEE) 1892-1894, Life Fellow
IEEE (AIEE), Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow American
Electro-Therapeutic Association, New York Academy of Sciences, American Philosophical Society,
National Electric Light Association, Serbian Academy of Sciences, Societe International desElectriciens, Societe Francaise de Physique, Institution of Electrical Engineers (British).

AWARDS: IEEE (AIEE) Edison Medal (1916), The Franklin Institute's Elliott Cresson Gold Medal(1893), The John Scott Medal (1934), Nominated for an undivided Nobel Prize in 1937.

250 PATENTS: The invention of the Rotating Magnetic Field, The Induction Motor, The AC
Polyphase Power Distribution System, the Fundamental System of Wireless Communication (LegalPriority for the invention of Radio), RF Oscillators, Voltage Magnification by Standing Waves,Robotics, Logic Gates for Secure RF Communications, X-Rays, Ionized Gases, High Field Emission,
Charged Particle Beams, Voltage Multiplication Circuitry, High Voltage Discharges, Lightning
Protection, the Bladeless Turbine, VTOL aircraft.

HONORS: The name “TESLA” was adopted as the unit of Magnetic Induction (1956). The Tesla
Award was created by the IEEE (1976).

Antenna Measurement Techniques Association

POSTER PAPER

October 22-25, 2001

5TRIBUTES TO NIKOLA TESLA(1856-1943)

Lord Kelvin: "Tesla has contributed more to electrical science than any man up to his time."
Sir J.A. Fleming: "Tesla captured the attention of the whole scientific world by his fascinating experiments."
W.H. Eccles [Flip-Flop circuit]: "Tesla was the greatest inventor in the realm of electrical engineering."• Noble Prize Winners: [Dr. Tesla was nominated for an undivided Nobel Prize (in Physics) in 1937.]
Niels Bohr: "With deepest admiration we think of how Tesla could accomplish such great achievements."
Ernest Rutherford: "... all scientific men will be delighted to extend their warmest congratulations to Tesla
and to express their appreciation of his great contributions to science."
Albert Einstein: "[Tesla is] an eminent pioneer in the realm of high frequency currents... I congratulate [him]on the great successes of [his] life's work."
W.H. Bragg: "[Dr. Tesla's] experiments were the most original and daring... I shall never forget."Arthur Holly Compton: "Tesla is entitled to the enduring gratitude of mankind."Robert A. Millikan: "I am sending [Dr. Tesla]... my gratitude and my respect in overflowing measure."• IEEE Presidents: [Dr. Tesla was a Life Fellow of the AIEE and the 1917 recipient its highest award.]
Thomas Commerford Martin: "Tesla's influence may truly be said to have marked an epoch in the progressof electrical science."
J.S. Stone: "He did more to excite interest and create an intelligent understanding [of RF]...than anyone."
L.W. Austin: "I am glad to express... my feeling of the great debt that the radio art owes to [his] genius."
H.W. Buck: "The work of Nikola Tesla... in his great conception of the rotary field seems to me one of thegreatest feats of imagination which has ever been attained by the human mind."
Ernst F.W. Alexanderson: "In almost every step of progress in electrical power engineering as well as inradio, we can trace the spark of thought back to Nikola Tesla."Charles Proteus Steinmetz: "I can find no mistakes in Tesla's thoughts."
Lee de Forest: "If I could be any other man I would be Nikola Tesla."
Michael Pupin: "The credit of showing the practical importance of AC for motors belongs entirely to Tesla."
G. Dunn: "[Dr. Tesla] solved the greatest problem in electrical engineering of his time."
Haraden Pratt: "Our existing industrial era would cease to function without Tesla's great contributions."
Arthur E. Kennelly: "... what he showed was a revelation to science and art unto all time."
Charles F. Scott: "The evolution of electric power from the discovery of Faraday to the initial great
installation of the Tesla polyphase system in 1896 is undoubtedly the most tremendous event in allengineering history."• IEEE Vice-Presidents: [Tesla served two years as an IEEE (AIEE) Vice-President: 1892 to 1894.]
Bernard A. Behrend: "Were we to seize and to eliminate from our industrial world the results of Mr. Tesla'swork, the wheels of industry would cease to turn, our electric cars and trains would stop, our towns would be
dark, our mills would be dead and idle."
Edwin Howard Armstrong: "[He was] a prophet of the wireless-controlled engines of war."
Jonathan Zenneck: "[Dr. Tesla's] lectures opened a new physical world to me... [He was] one of the kindest
men I've ever encountered. The hours which I was permitted to spend together with [him] will always beamong the fondest memories of my life."
Other IEEE executive officers [R.H. Marriott (1st IRE President), Fritz Lowenstein (1st IRE Vice-President
and Tesla aide), Vannevar Bush, Valdemar Poulsen, and John Hays Hammond, Jr.] were all no less lavish
when extolling Dr. Tesla, as were also his personal friends Sir William Crooks, Lord Rayleigh, Sir James
Dewer, Hermann von Helmholtz, and a galaxy of other celebrated scientists and prominent engineers.

Antenna Measurement Techniques Association

POSTER PAPER

October 22-25, 2001

6References
1

Alexanderson, E.F.W., letter to Kenneth Swezey, quoted in “Nikola Tesla: Pathfinder of the Electrical Age,” by K.M.
Swezey, Electrical Engineering, New York, September, 1956, p. 786-790.
2
Anderson, L.I., Dr. Nikola Tesla Bibliography, The Tesla Society, 1956, 43 pp., 2nd ed. by J.T. Ratzlaff and L.I.
Anderson, Ragusan Press, 1979, 237 pp. [ISBN 0-918660-08-4].
3Tesla, N., “A New System of Alternate Current Motors and Transformers,” Transactions of the AIEE, Vol. 5, September
1887 to October, 1888, (July, 1888), pp. 308-327, discussion pp. 324-327. (Paper read before the AIEE on May 16,1888.)
Reprinted in Electrical World (NY), June 2, 1888, pp. 281-283; Electrical Review - London, Part I, June 15, 1888, pp. 647649; Part II, June 22, 1888, pp. 676-678. Reprinted again in the Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 72, No. 2, February, 1984,pp. 165-173. Also see The Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla, by T.C. Martin, The Electrical Engineer,1894, pp. 10-25. (2nd ed., Barnes and Noble, 1992.)
4Corum, K.L., and J.F. Corum,“Tesla and the Magnifying Transmitter: A Popular Study for Engineers,” Proceedings of the 5thInternational Tesla Symposium, Colorado Springs, Colorado, July, 1992.
5Corum, J.F., and K.L. Corum, “Tesla Coils: 1890-1990 - 100 Years Of Cavity Resonator Development,” Proceedings of theFourth International Tesla Symposium, Colorado Springs, Colorado, July, 1990.
6Sloan, D.H., “A Radiofrequency High Voltage Generator,” Physical Review, Vol. 47, Jan. 1, 1935, pp. 62-71.
Livingston, M.S., Particle Accelerators: A Brief History, Harvard University Press, 1969.
8Pratt, H., “Nikola Tesla 1856-1943,” Proceedings of the IRE, Vol. 44, September, 1956, pp. 1106-1108.
7

9“Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Company of the United States vs. United States,” case judgment of the U.S. Supreme Court,
October term, 1942, No. 369, pp. 1-80.

10Anderson, L.I., “Priority in the Invention of Radio: Tesla vs. Marconi,” Antique Wireless Association Monograph No.
4, March, 1980, 9 pages.
11
Anderson, L.I., “John Stone Stone on Nikola Tesla's Priority in Radio and Continuous-Wave Radiofrequency
Apparatus,” The A.W.A. (Antique Wireless Association) Review, Vol. 1, 1986, pp. 18-41.
12
Anderson, L.I., Nikola Tesla On His Work With Alternating Currents, Sun Publishers, Denver, Colorado, 1992. [ISBN0-9632652-0-2]
13Page, R.M., “The Early History of Radar,” Proceedings of the IRE, Vol. 50, No.5, May, 1962, (special 50thAnniversary Issue), pp. 1232-1236.
1415161718

Tesla, N., “The Problem of Increasing Human Energy,” The Century Illustrated Magazine, pp. 175-211. (See pg.
209.)
H.W. Secor's name is found on the first IRE record book listing the Institute's earliest members. (Member #101)
Secor, H.W., “Tesla's Views on Electricity and the War,” The Electrical Experimenter, Vol. 5, No. 4, August, 1917, pp. 229230, 270.

Pratt, loc cit.
Hammond, J.H., Jr., and E.S. Purington, “A History of Some Foundations of Modern Radio-Electronic Technology,”
Proceedings of the IRE, Vol. 45, September, 1957, pp. 1191-1208. Also see the lengthy “Discussions and Rebuttals"
by L. Espenshied, and by J.H. Hammond and E.S. Purington, Proceedings of the IRE, Vol. 47, 1959, pp. 1253-1268.

19

Tesla, N., US Patent #583,953, issued June 8, 1897.
See front cover, IEEE IMPACT, Vol. 8, No. 4, June, 1984.
21
Martin, T.C., The Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla, The Electrical Engineer, 1894. (Secondedition, Barnes and Noble, 1992.)
202223Eccles, W.H., “Nikola Tesla,” Proceedings of the IEE, (London), November, 1943, Pt. I, pg. 457.
Crawford, E., J.L. Heilbron, and R. Ullrich, The Nobel Population 1901-1937: A Census of the Nominators andNominees for the Prizes in Physics and Chemistry, University of California, 1987.