Laurens Hammond was born in Evanston, Illinois back in 1895 to William and Louise. When he was three his father committed suicide. So, his mother moved to France and then to Germany for the next 11 years. When they returned to the States in 1909 he was fluent in both languages. In 1912, he received his first patent for a barometer that sold for one dollar.
He attended Cornell University majoring in mechanical engineering. He graduated in 1916 with honors. During WWI, he served in the 16th, Regiment Engineers for the American Expeditionary Force, rising to the rank of captain.
He died in Cornwall, Connecticut in 1973, he was 78.
What you may not know about Laurens is that he invented the Hammond Organ and the Hammond Clock, the world’s first polyphonic musical synthesizer called the Novachord. I’m not finished yet. During WWII, he helped design the guided missile control systems, light-sensing devices for bomb guidance, new type of gyroscope. All-in-all he held over 110 patents.
Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
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