Edwin Howard Armstrong

NAME: Edwin Howard Armstrong

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Known as the "father of modern radio" for his inventions of FM radio and the superheterodyne receiver system.

BIRTH: December 18, 1890, New York City, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Armstrong was born into a middle-class family. His father, John Armstrong, was a prosperous publisher and his mother, Emily Smith Armstrong, was a housewife. 

CHILDHOOD: Edwin was raised in a devoutly Presbyterian household.

Shy and introverted, Armstrong grew up in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. From an early age, he showed an interest in tinkering with mechanical devices and understanding how things worked.

Radio waves were his jam from a young age. Armstrong built his own radio equipment in his attic – the ultimate teenager's bedroom project!

EDUCATION: When Armstrong came down with a nasty case of Sydenham's chorea, a rare neurological condition, it wasn't your average childhood sniffles; this thing left him with a persistent twitch that flared up whenever life got a bit too exciting. School, naturally, went out the window. Public classrooms were a recipe for disaster, so Edwin ended up getting tutored at home for a good two years.

He attended Columbia University, where he studied electrical engineering. He graduated in 1913 with a degree in electrical engineering.

Armstrong briefly worked as a research assistant at Columbia.

CAREER RECORD: Armstrong's career was marked by groundbreaking contributions to the field of radio technology. His most significant invention was FM radio, which revolutionized the way radio signals were transmitted and received.

Never held a corporate job; focused on independent research and development.

Established his own lab at Columbia University funded by royalties from his patents.

Held 42 patents related to radio technology.

APPEARANCE: Armstrong was described as tall and slender, with a serious demeanor.

Armstrong explaining the superregenerative circuit, New York, 1922

FASHION: Known for his practicality, Armstrong preferred simple and functional attire. Function over form for Edwin.

CHARACTER:  He was known for his determination, perseverance, and keen intellect. Armstrong was deeply passionate about his work and dedicated countless hours to perfecting his inventions.

A brilliant inventor with a relentless drive for innovation, Armstrong could be argumentative and fiercely protective of his ideas.

SENSE OF HUMOR: While focused on his work, Armstrong also had a playful side and enjoyed lighthearted banter with colleagues and friends.

RELATIONSHIPS: Armstrong met Marion MacInnis, who was working as a secretary for an RCA executive, in 1922. They were married the following year.

Armstrong reportedly built a portable radio for Marion and purchased a car as a wedding gift. 

Edwin Armstrong with his new wife Esther Marion MacInnis in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1923.

Their relationship faced challenges, with Marion experiencing a mental health crisis requiring hospitalization.: By 1953, financial difficulties mounted due to Armstrong's ongoing legal battles. He reportedly requested access to funds held in Marion's name, but their conversation turned hostile.

Armstrong was known to be a solitary individual, prioritizing work over social interactions. However, he had a close-knit circle of friends within the scientific and engineering communities.

MONEY AND FAME Armstrong initially achieved financial security through royalties from his patents. He later faced financial difficulties due to legal battles related to FM radio.

Public recognition came through awards and his lasting impact on radio technology.

FOOD AND DRINK: Armstrong was known to prefer simple, home-cooked meals and enjoyed the occasional drink with friends.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Armstrong had a deep appreciation for music and often used his inventions to improve the quality of audio transmission. He enjoyed attending concerts and performances in his free time.

LITERATURE: Likely well-read in scientific and technical literature related to his field.

NATURE: He had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed spending time hiking and exploring the countryside.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: In addition to his passion for radio technology, Armstrong enjoyed playing tennis and fishing in his leisure time.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Armstrong possessed a strong foundation in electrical engineering and physics. His inventions significantly contributed to the advancement of radio technology.

Stuck in the trenches of World War I with the U.S. Signal Corps, Armstrong wasn't content with just dodging shells. No, young Edwin was busy fiddling with something far more interesting: the superheterodyne circuit. Imagine a gadget that could pluck a whisper from a cacophony, turning faint, high-pitched signals into clear, booming sound. That, folks, was Armstrong's brainchild. This marvel of engineering became the backbone of radio broadcasting, laying the groundwork for the voices and music that would soon fill the airwaves.

But Armstrong wasn't done there. By 1933, he'd cooked up an even more radical idea: FM radio. This wasn't your crackly, static-ridden AM experience. This was radio with a crystal-clear sheen, a fidelity that would make even the pickiest audiophile grin. He wasn't just tinkering anymore; he was revolutionizing. In 1935, up in the hills of Alpine, New Jersey, Armstrong unveiled his creation to the world, the first public FM broadcast in the US. It was a moment that would forever change the way we listen.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY:  Raised in a Presbyterian household, Armstrong was not known for overtly philosophical or theological pursuits, but his work in advancing communication technology had profound implications for human connection and understanding.

SCANDAL:  By 1933, Armstrong had his pockets jingling with patents for a revolutionary new way to listen: FM radio. It was like tossing out your old, scratchy record player and replacing it with a high-fidelity machine that could play a mosquito's serenade. Crystal clear, the kind of sound that would make even your grandma with her hearing aid say, "Now that's somethin' special!"

But the road to audio bliss, as Armstrong soon discovered, was paved with more than good intentions and clever schematics. Enter David Sarnoff, Marion's old boss and now the big cheese at RCA, who ran a radio empire built on AM stations. FM, in Sarnoff's eyes, was the unwelcome guest at the party, threatening to disrupt his whole operation. RCA, along with a whole orchestra of other companies (Motorola included!), decided to play their own tune, filing competing patents for FM radio.

This turned Armstrong's dream into a legal nightmare. Years of patent battles followed, each one a costly lawsuit that slowly drained his bank account. It was a battle of the titans, with Armstrong, the lone inventor, facing down a Goliath of corporations. And let's just say, winning the war for better radio waves was taking a heavy toll on his wallet.

During his lengthy legal battle with larger corporations over FM radio patents., Armstrong was accused of financial mismanagement.

MILITARY RECORD: Armstrong served in the US Army Signal Corps during World War I, where he applied his expertise in radio technology to military communications.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: At eight years old, Edwin Armstrong was struck by Sydenham's chorea, a rare neurological condition often triggered by rheumatic fever. This left him with a persistent physical tic that worsened during periods of excitement or stress.

HOMES: Life for young Edwin Armstrong wasn't all cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages. In 1895, the family swapped their brownstone on 29th Street, New York for a similar one further uptown, on the burgeoning Upper West Side.  But just as eight-year-old Edwin was getting used to his new digs, fate threw him a curveball. He came down with a nasty case of St. Vitus' Dance. Fresh air and wide-open spaces seemed like the doctor ordered, so the Armstrongs packed up again and moved to Yonkers, right by the Hudson River. 

As an adult, Armstrong lived in various locations throughout his life, primarily in New York City and the surrounding areas.

TRAVEL: While most of his work was centered in New York, Armstrong traveled extensively for professional conferences and meetings.

DEATH: In the tumultuous final chapters of his life, Edwin Howard Armstrong, once celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to radio technology, found himself embroiled in a bitter struggle. Battling against relentless litigation and the weight of mounting financial woes, Armstrong's spirit was undoubtedly tested.

In a disturbing turn of events, Armstrong's frustration boiled over one fateful day, leading to a regrettable altercation with his wife. The scene unfolded dramatically, with Armstrong wielding a fireplace poker in a fit of anger, striking his wife on the arm. The aftermath saw her seek refuge with her sister, leaving behind a fractured domestic situation. 

As the shadows of despair lengthened, Armstrong found himself standing on the precipice of his own existence. In the quiet of the night, between January 31st and February 1st, 1954, he made a fateful decision that would echo through the annals of history. From the lofty heights of his 12-room abode, perched on the 13th floor of the River House in Manhattan, Armstrong took his final, tragic leap.

The New York Times, chroniclers of the city's every heartbeat, offered a glimpse into the turmoil that plagued Armstrong's soul. His two-page suicide note, a poignant testament to his inner torment, revealed the depths of his anguish. Heartbroken at the irreparable breach in his marriage, Armstrong's words resonated with profound regret for causing pain to the dearest soul in his life. With a plea for divine mercy, his soul sought solace in the arms of the Almighty, bidding farewell to a world he could no longer bear.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Armstrong's life and work have been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films. He is widely celebrated as one of the greatest inventors of the 20th century.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Revolutionized radio technology with inventions like FM radio and the superheterodyne receiver.

Held numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to science and engineering.

His work laid the foundation for modern radio and continues to shape the way we experience audio broadcasting.