New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-26
Peter C.. Hewitt,
y. 7. Inventor.
Dead In Paris
Wife and Two Sisters at
Bedside When End Comes
to Eminent Scientist in
the American Hospital
Expert on Electricity
Cooper Hewitt Lamp and
Many Other. Services We're
Products of His Skill

PARIS, Aug. % BY The Associated
P$csso.-Peter Cooper Hewitt, the
American scientist and electrical! in
ventor, died in the American Hospital
here at 7:l5 O'Clock tonight. His wife
ana ms two sisters were at the bedside.
MIR. Hewitt's Early Life
Peter Cooper Hewitt. electrical and
inventor and engineer. bore
by inheritance the names of two among
the most eminent New Workers. OF q
preceding generation. His father was
Aoram Stevens Hewitt, leading iron
and merchant, Represen-
tative IN Congress, Mayor OF New York
and promoter of many civic, educa-
tlonal and philanthropic causes. His
mother, Sarah Amelia COOPER Hewitt.
was daughter of Peter Cooper. in
ventor, manufacturer, railroad builder
and benefactor of New York in the gift
or the Cooper Union for the Advance
menr of Art and Science, more COM
monty known as Cooper Institute. He
was born in this city on March 5. 1861.
and was educated at the Stevens In
sttute OF Technology. at Hoboken, and
% Columbia University School OF
Mines.
n boyhood he manifested strong
inclination toward mechanics and his
courses OF study were directed toward
the mechanical, chemical ard electrical
sciences, in which he developed much
proficiency. One of his earliest inven-
lions was that of improved machinery
IN his grandfather's famous glue fac
tory and this was followed with new
forms of centrifugal machines, evapo-
rators and other devices for use in
breweries. The early experiments in
motor vehicles and flying machines en-
ils1ed ms interest and he made a num-
Der Oh inventions relating to them. But
ABOUT 1893 he began to devote serious
accention to electrical science and in
mat held achieved his greatest suc-
cesses.
Perhaps the best known of his cleo
u Inventions is the so-called Cooper
hewitt Lamp" 1t consists of a long
glass tube suspended in q nearly hori-
zoh1ai position and containing quick
silver, which is vaporized by electrical
action. The flow of the electric cnr-
rent through the vapor causes the
whole tube to glow with bright liobt
elght times as strong as an mean
descent light produced by the same en-
ergy, put very much cooler-the cleo
erlcal energy going into light rather
Noted as an Inventor
Another of his electrical inventions
IS the cooper Hewitt rectifier." called
Dy Lord Kelvin static converter
IL IS used to transform alternating
currents so that direct current ma.
chlnery can be used where only an al
CeThatlng current is available. An
oIner IS an electrical interrupter.
mhicn is used for turning off powerful
my tension currents and for auto
la .icaliy making and breaking a cir
Sule' otil another device is his wire
less telegraph receiver, in which bv
the use OF mercury vapor he attains
Il Ho1aoiy nigh degree of constituencies
In the domain of aeronanric NJ
hewitt made elaborate studies and ex-
perments in the efficiency of inclined
surfaces acting either as gliding planes
or as propeller blades, which cuImi-
mated IN 1907 in his construction Of
nydroplane or gliding boat. WITH foDr
sets OF gliding planes, each set con
'isIing OF several planes in tiers. The
null or the boat is lifted and held en-
.'rely above the water by the dynamic
SETON or reaction of the water against
ne inclined surfaces of the planes.
ne hrst ooat, ITS hull weighing a ton,
was tired on Long Island Sound in
1907, and easily attained speed Of
'hlrty-fve miles an hour, driven bv
small gasoline engine, and the inventor
expressed confidence in it's ability 10
make sixty miles an hour.
Because Of his scientific attainnnents
turing the World War Mr. Hewitt was
made flrst vice-chairman Of the United
States Naval Consulting Board. of New
I OK and IN that capacity did much
5aluaDie patriotic service He was
~ OF trustee of the Cooper
= 4 levitt Electric Company, the Hewitt
Z Seaity Company. the Hexagon Realty
company. the Lehigh and Oxford Min
ng Company, the Midvale Water Com
7any the Madison Square Garden Com
7any, the New York and Greenwood
Lake Railroad Company. the Cooper
L mon and the House Of Rest for Con
sumptIves He was member Of the
American Institute of Electrical Fngi-
leers. the American Physical Society.
NE American Geographical Society. the
society Of Naval Architects and Marine
engineers. the New York Society OF
= lecttlcal Engineers and the General
society Of Mechanics and Tradesmen.
Md also of the Century Association.
he Aero Club of America. the Autono-
olle Club of America, and the Union.
! nickerbocker. Manhattan. Engineers.
layers, Lambs. Brook, Racquet and
Tennis and Tuxedo clubs
Opposition to Wilson Policies
Following his fathers example. he
vas member of the Democratic party
Town TO the second Wilson Administered
.ion. though he never sought Office or
concerned himself in politics save as
private citizen. In 1920. however. he
'evolted against the policies which
Y oodrow Wilson was endeavorine 10
'orce upon his party and the nation.
and which he considered "inimical to
ne hest interests of the people" He
therefore, announced his intention 10
'ote for Warren G. Harding for Presi-
lent.
Mr.. Hewitt received the honorary de-
gree OF Doctor of Science from Column
ia University in 1903 and from Eut-
cers College in 1916. He was married
n April. 1887. 10 Miss Lucy Work.
laughter of Frank Work. prominent
inancler and horseman Of this CITY.
lie was divorced from her, and in De
ember, 1913. was married q. Paterson.
\. j., to Mrs. Maryon J. Bruguiere.
AS home for many years was a. Ring
vocd Manor. n. j.
Yrs. Henry DibbIee. Sister of