John Logie Baird

NAME: John Logie Baird

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Pioneering television technology, including the world's first working television system.

BIRTH: August 13, 1888, in Helensburgh, a small coastal town in the west of Scotland.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: John Logie Baird was born into a family of Scottish descent. His father, Reverend John Baird, was a clergyman, and his mother, Jessie Morrison Inglis, came from a family of shipbuilders. He was the fourth and youngest child

CHILDHOOD: Baird grew up in Helensburgh, Scotland, where he developed an early interest in science and technology. 

John Logie Baird wasn't your average kid. While other youngsters were content with tops and hopscotch, young John was busy redecorating the manse with his own personal telephone exchange and a frankly terrifying electrical lighting system. Neighborhood cats learned the dangers of straying too close to the Baird residence the hard way, their whiskers twitching in response to the errant zap of a homemade joule thief.

EDUCATION: He attended Larchfield Academy and later studied electrical engineering at the University of Glasgow, but his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I.

CAREER RECORD: Baird is most famous for inventing the first working television system in the early 1920s. He demonstrated his invention to the public in 1925 and continued to refine and improve upon it over the following years. Here's his resume

Worked for the Clyde Valley Electrical Power Company after graduation.

Before Baird demonstrated his television, he had set up an unsuccessful jam factory in Trinidad.

Established the Baird Television Development Company.

Achieved numerous firsts in television history, including:

Transmission of moving pictures (1926)

Transatlantic television transmission (1928)

Publicly demonstrated color television (1928)

First television programs broadcast by the BBC (1929)

Founded France's first television company, Télévision-Baird-Natan (1929)

APPEARANCE: Baird was described as a tall, slender man with a serious demeanor.

John Logie Baird in 1917

FASHION: He was typically seen wearing formal attire, reflecting the styles of his time.

CHARACTER: Baird was known for his determination, creativity, and innovative spirit. He was passionate about his work and dedicated himself fully to his experiments and inventions.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Baird was known to have a dry wit and enjoyed engaging in light-hearted banter with friends and colleagues.

RELATIONSHIPS: Baird married South African pianist Margaret Albu in 1931. They had two children together., Diana and Malcolm.

MONEY AND FAME: Although Baird achieved fame for his invention of television and his company had some success, it eventually lost ground to competitors. He struggled financially throughout much of his life. 

FOOD AND DRINK: Baird's preferences in food and drink are not extensively documented.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Baird had a keen interest in music and the arts, but his primary focus was on scientific pursuits.

LITERATURE: He was known to be well-read and had an appreciation for literature, particularly scientific literature.

NATURE: Baird had a love for nature and enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially during his childhood in Scotland.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Baird's primary hobby was his work on scientific experiments and inventions. He was not known to have participated in sports extensively.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Baird's entire career was dedicated to scientific research, particularly in the fields of electronics and telecommunications.

Baird's adult years were a whirlwind of invention, some more successful than others. His tenure as a supervising engineer came to a rather abrupt end after an experiment in diamond synthesis (coal dust under pressure, anyone?) plunged half of Glasgow into darkness. 

But Baird's true passion lay in the realm of the flickering image. In 1924, above a shop in Hastings like some kind of renegade Victorian Willy Wonka, he constructed the world's first television transmitter. Now, this wasn't exactly high-tech – we're talking an old motor, a tea chest, and a healthy dose of bodge and ingenuity. String, sealing wax, and a bicycle lamp lens all played their part in this cobbled-together marvel.

The first televised image on October 2, 1925 wasn't exactly the Mona Lisa. It was, in fact, the grotesque visages of two ventriloquist's dummies – James and Stooky Bill, bless their names. But hey, it was a start! Humanity had its first glimpse of a world reimagined through flickering electronic ghosts.  Baird, ever the showman, then dragged a bewildered office worker downstairs and forever enshrined him as the first fully televised human. William Edward Taynton, take a bow!

The public debut of this revolutionary contraption happened on January 26, 1926, the lucky audience a motley crew of boffins and a journalist from The Times. The pictures were tiny, about the size of a postage stamp, but the seed was sown. Grainy, flickering, and possibly haunted by the ghosts of ventriloquist's dummies, television was born.

Baird wasn't content with black and white. By 1928, he'd conjured color into the mix, and in a feat of transatlantic derring-do, beamed the first ever television signal across the pond, from Britain to the astonished eyes of America.

Baird's technological reign wasn't destined to last forever. The BBC, fickle mistress that she is, switched her affections to a rival system in 1937. But Baird wasn't finished yet. On August 16, 1944, he unveiled the world's first fully electronic color television, a marvel capable of not only rendering the world in all its chromatic glory but also displaying images in 3D – a mind-bender for a time when television itself was still a novelty.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: While Baird's primary focus was on science and technology, he was raised in a religious household and likely had some exposure to philosophical and theological ideas.

SCANDAL: There are no significant scandals associated with Baird's life.

MILITARY RECORD: Baird served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, but his service was cut short due to health issues.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Baird struggled with poor health throughout his life, including respiratory problems that stemmed from his time serving in World War I.

Baird's damp-proof socks for cold Scottish feet, "Baird patent Undersock" proved a financial success. Who knew there was a market for that?

There was also the unfortunate incident with his patent cure for piles, a recipe that left Baird writhing in agony for a week and did little for his reputation as a medical marvel. 

HOMES John Logie Baird lived in a variety of locations throughout his life, reflecting his career pursuits and personal circumstances. Here are some key places he called home:

Helensburgh, Scotland (1888-1900s): Baird was born and spent his early years in this town.

Glasgow, Scotland (1900s): He attended the Royal Technical College (now Strathclyde University) here.

Hastings, England (1920s): This is where Baird conducted his early television experiments and established his company.

London, England (1930s): As his career progressed, Baird relocated to London, a center for technological development.

Bexhill-on-Sea, England (1940s): Baird lived at 1 Station Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex from December 1944 to his death. Baird's Station Road house was demolished in 2007 and the site is now apartments named Baird Court.

John Logie Baird's house in Bexhill-on-Sea by Patrick Roper 

TRAVEL Baird's travels were primarily driven by his work in promoting and demonstrating his television technology. He journeyed to:

Europe: Baird actively sought international recognition for his inventions. He demonstrated his television system in countries like France and Germany.

United States: He traveled to the US to showcase his work and secure potential partnerships.

DEATH: John Logie Baird suffered a stroke in his Bexhill home in February 1946. Baird was ordered bedridden but refused to stay there, and continued to deteriorate until his death on June 14, 1946 aged 57. He is buried with his mother, father and wife in Scotland in Helensburgh Cemetery.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Given the era of his achievements (1888-1946), John Logie Baird wouldn't have had media appearances in the way we think of them today. However, his pioneering work did likely garner him some media attention:

Newsreels: These short, filmed news reports were popular in the early 20th century. Baird's demonstrations or himself might have been featured in newsreels of the time.

Early Television Broadcasts: As television technology developed, Baird himself could have appeared on some of the very first broadcasts as a way to showcase his invention.

ACHIEVEMENTS John Logie Baird's achievements are truly remarkable and hold a significant place in technological history. Here are some of his key accomplishments:

The World's First Working Television System: In 1926, Baird demonstrated the first publicly viewable television system, transmitting moving silhouettes.

Transatlantic Television Transmission (1928): He successfully transmitted television signals across the Atlantic Ocean, a major milestone.

Public Demonstration of Color Television (1928): Baird made significant strides in color television, demonstrating an early version of the technology.

First Television Programs Broadcast by the BBC (1929): The BBC began its television service using Baird's technology, marking a crucial step towards widespread television adoption.

Founding France's First Television Company (1929): He actively spread his inventions internationally, establishing Télévision-Baird-Natan in France.