Morris E. Leeds (March 6, 1869 in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

– February 8, 1952) was an American electrical engineer known for his many inventions in the field of electrical measuring devices and controls.

Biography

Leeds was born in Philadelphia in 1869 to Barclay Robert and Mary (Maule) Leeds. After attending the

Westtown School Westtown School is a Quaker, coeducational, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, 20 miles west of Philadelphia. Founded in 1799 b ...

, he graduated with a

B.S. A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...

at Haverford College in 1888. During 1892–93 he was a graduate student in physics at the

University of Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...

. After graduation in 1888 Leeds started working in industry, By 1899 he was cofounded his own firm to manufacture electrical instruments, Morris E. Leed's & Co., where he became managing partner. In 1903 with

Edwin Fitch Northrup Edwin Fitch Northrup (born February 23, 1866 – May 13, 1940) was a professor of physics at Princeton University from 1910 to 1920. He was affiliated with the Leeds & Northrup for about seven years. He studied at Amherst College and the Johns Ho ...

he founded a second company:

Leeds & Northrup Leeds & Northrup (L&N) was an American electric technology company founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1899. It was formed by Morris E. Leeds and Edwin Fitch Northrup. L&N merged with General Signal in 1978. General Signal divested itself ...

to manufacture electrical instruments and pyrometers, where he was president until 1939 and chairman of the board of directors until 1952. He was an active Orthodox Quaker all his life. Leeds was inducted into the

Academy of Natural Sciences The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1812, by many of the leading natura ...

and American Academy of Political and Social Science. He received the

Edward Longstreth Medal The Franklin Institute is a science museum and the center of science education and research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named after the American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin. It houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memori ...

from the

Franklin Institute The Franklin Institute is a science museum and the center of science education and research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named after the American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin. It houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memori ...

in 1920, the

Henry Laurence Gantt Medal The Henry Laurence Gantt Medal was established in 1929 by the American Management Association and the Management section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for "distinguished achievement in management and service to the community" in h ...

in 1936, the

ASME Medal The ASME Medal, created in 1920, is the highest award bestowed by the ASME (founded as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Board of Governors for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement". The award has been presented every year ...

in 1946, and the

IEEE Edison Medal The IEEE Edison Medal is presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) "for a career of meritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering, or the electrical arts." It is the oldest medal in this fi ...

in 1948.

Patents

* US Patent No. 965.824 - recorder, 1910. * US Patent No. 1.057.416 - speed control apparatus, 1913. * US Patent No. 1.097.651 - measuring apparatus, 1914. * US Patent No. 1.125.699 - electrical recorder, 1915. * US Patent No. 1.192.911 - composite resistance, 1916. * US Patent No. 1.332.182 - automatic control, 1917

References

External links

Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leeds, Morris E. IEEE Edison Medal recipients 1869 births 1952 deaths ASME Medal recipients