Morris E. Leeds (March 6, 1869 in Philadelphia – February 8, 1952) was an American electrical engineer known for his many inventions in the field of electrical measuring devices and controls.

Morris E. Leeds
Born(1869-03-06)March 6, 1869
DiedFebruary 8, 1952(1952-02-08) (aged 82)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Berlin
Haverford College
AwardsASME Medal (1946)
IEEE Edison Medal (1948)

Biography edit

Leeds was born in Philadelphia in 1869 to Barclay Robert and Mary (Maule) Leeds. After attending the Westtown School, he graduated with a B.S. at Haverford College in 1888. During 1892–93 he was a graduate student in physics at the University of Berlin.

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 he founded a second company: Leeds & Northrup 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 American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,[1] and the American Philosophical Society.[2] He received the Edward Longstreth Medal from the Franklin Institute in 1920,[3] the Henry Laurence Gantt Medal in 1936, the ASME Medal in 1946,[4] and the IEEE Edison Medal in 1948.[5]

Patents edit

 
Test set to localize failures in (underground) cables, manufactured by the Leeds & Northrup company
  • 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 edit

  1. ^ "Morris Evans Leeds". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  2. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  3. ^ "Franklin Laureate Database - Edward Longstreth Medal 1920 Laureates". Franklin Institute. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  4. ^ "ASME Medal". American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  5. ^ "Morris E. Leeds". IEEE Global History Network. IEEE. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

External links edit