Guglielmo Marconi

Guglielmo Marconi, GCVO (25 April 1874 – 20 July 1937) was an Italian electrical engineer and Nobel laureate, known for the development of a practical wireless telegraphy system commonly known as the "radio". Marconi was President of the Accademia d'Italia and a member of the Fascist Grand Council of Italy.

Later years

In 1901, Marconi built a station near Wellfleet, MA. It was first called CC (Cape Cod), then MCC (Marconi Cape Cod) and finally WCC when the US government issued "W" call letters to stations east of the Mississippi. In 1903, from this station, Marconi sent the famous message from the President of the US to the King of England. This message was sent directly from Welfleet to England,without being relayed via Glace Bay, Nova Scotia (Which was another Marconi station). During WWI, all radio stations went off the air. When the war was over, Marconi had planned to move the station to Chatham. This was mainly because the ocean had eroded the cliff where the Welfleet station stood. Reportedly, the U.S. Government was worried about foreign ownership of radio stations.

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Marconi was forced to sell all his interests in the US to the RCA Corp. WCC remained for several years, was sold to MCI and was finally shut down. In 1911, Marconi receives the patent GB13020, "Installations for wireless telegraphy". In 1914 Marconi built Chatham Radio WCC in Chatham Cape Cod, which would become the busiest ship to shore radio station for most of the twentieth century.

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In 1920 Marconi's Chelmsford factory was the location of the first officially publicised sound broadcasts in the UK, one of them featuring Dame Nellie Melba. In 1922 the World's first regular wireless broadcasts for entertainment commenced from the Marconi Research Centre at Writtle near Chelmsford. Marconi joined the Italian fascist party in 1923. Benito Mussolini made Marconi President of the Accademia d'Italia, which also made him a member of the Fascist Grand Council. He made fascist speeches on the radio in a number of countries.

Related Topics:
1920 - Chelmsford - Broadcast - UK - Nellie Melba - 1922 - Marconi Research Centre - Writtle - Italian - Fascist - 1923 - Benito Mussolini - Accademia d'Italia - Fascist Grand Council

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On 15 June 1927 he married Maria Cristina Bezzi-Scali; Mussolini was best man. Their daughter was named Maria Elettra Elena Anna Marconi. Marconi died in Rome on 20 July, 1937.

Related Topics:
15 June - 1927 - Maria Cristina Bezzi-Scali - Best man - Maria Elettra Elena Anna Marconi - Rome - 20 July - 1937

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