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Vannevar Bush - life and accomplishments

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  • Birth

    Vannevar Bush was born in Everett, Massachusetts

  • Graduated from Chelsea High School

    His family moved to Chelsea, Massachusetts while he was still in school.

  • Graduated from Tufts College

    He earned both a bachelor's and master's of science degree in just four years. He was also vice president of his sophomore class.
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    Worked for General Electric

    He tested the equipment to ensure that it was safe. He worked in New York and Massachusetts.

  • Earned a doctorate

    Bush jointly received his doctorate in engineering from MIT and Harvard University.

  • Married his wife, Phoebe Davis

    Bush knew her from high school. They got married a few months after he finished his thesis titled "Oscillating-Current Circuits."

  • Studied in the department of Electrical Engineering at MIT

  • Created a differential analyzer

    Bush created an analog computer with some digital components. It could solve differential equations with as many as 18 variables. This was a step toward conceiving digital computers that could do more than just math computations.

  • Became VP of MIT and Dean of the MIT School of Engineering

    Bush also earned an advanced degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  • Appointed to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

    His son later became the chairman.

  • Became president of the Carnegie Institute of Washington

    The institute was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1902 as an organization for scientific discovery.

  • Became chairman of the NDRC

    Bush was appointed as the chairman of the National Defense Research Committee. He created the group because he knew the United States needed to improve its defense capabilities during World War I.
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    Involved with the Manhattan Project

    Bush managed most of the project and oversaw testing of the bomb.

  • Became director of the OSRD

    Bush was influential in the Office of Scientific Research and Development, which also included medical research. He delegated supervision to strong colleagues. His main focus was doing research that would have a direct and useful impact on the war effort.

  • Earned the Edison Medal

    This award is from the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. He received this award "for his contribution to the advancement of electrical engineering, particularly through the development of new applications of mathematics to engineering problems, and for his eminent service to the nation in guiding the war research program."

  • As We May Think

    As We May Think Bush's landmark article was published in The Atlantic magazine.

  • Trinity nuclear test

    He oversaw the test detonation of the atomic bomb. This took place at a military base in New Mexico.
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    Served on the board of directors for American Telephone and Telegraph

  • Death

    At the age of 84, Bush died of pneumonia in Belmont, Massachusetts. He had suffered a stroke earlier that year.

  • Vannevar Bush Award

    The National Science Foundation created the Vannevar Bush Award to honor his contributions to public service.