Heinrich Hertz

22 February 1857 – 1 January 1894

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857-1894) was a German physicist who first conclusively demonstrated the existence of the electromagnetic waves predicted by James Clerk Maxwell's theory. His experiments laid the groundwork for radio communication, and the SI unit of frequency, the hertz, is named in his honor.

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Life events

Born in Hamburg, Germany
22 February 1857

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was born in Hamburg into a prosperous family; his father was a lawyer who later became a senator.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Studied sciences and engineering in Dresden, Munich, and Berlin
1876 – 1880

Hertz pursued studies in the sciences and engineering, ultimately studying physics in Berlin under Hermann von Helmholtz and Gustav Kirchhoff.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Received his doctorate from the University of Berlin
1880

Hertz earned his PhD magna cum laude under Helmholtz and remained as his assistant for post-doctoral study.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed lecturer at the University of Kiel
1883

Hertz took a position as a lecturer in theoretical physics at the University of Kiel.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became professor at the Karlsruhe Polytechnic
1885 – 1889

Hertz was appointed full professor of physics at the Technische Hochschule in Karlsruhe, where he would perform his famous experiments.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Elisabeth Doll
31 July 1886

Hertz married Elisabeth Doll, daughter of a Karlsruhe colleague; they had two daughters.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Observed the photoelectric effect
1887

During his spark-gap experiments, Hertz noticed that ultraviolet light facilitated electric sparks, the first observation of the photoelectric effect.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Demonstrated the existence of electromagnetic waves
1887 – 1888

Using spark-gap transmitters and receivers, Hertz generated and detected radio waves, confirming Maxwell's electromagnetic theory and showing the waves travel at the speed of light.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed professor of physics at the University of Bonn
1889

Hertz succeeded Rudolf Clausius as professor of physics at Bonn, where he investigated cathode rays and worked on the principles of mechanics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Bonn, Germany, at age 36
1 January 1894

Hertz died of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (then poorly understood) on New Year's Day 1894 and was buried in Hamburg.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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