Daniel McFarlan Moore

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Daniel McFarlan Moore
Born February 27, 1869(1869-02-27)
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Died June 15, 1936 (aged 67)
East Orange, New Jersey
Cause of death Murder
Spouse Mary Alice Elliott (m. 1895)
Parents Alexander Davis
Maria Louisa Douglas

Daniel McFarlan Moore (February 27, 1869 - June 15, 1936) was a U.S. electrical engineer and inventor. He created a novel light source which relied on coronal discharge, similar to a neon light.[1]

Contents

[edit] Birth and marriage

He was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania on February 27, 1869. Moore was the son of the Reverend Alexander Davis and Maria Louisa Douglas.

[edit] Career

He began his career working for Thomas Edison but started experimenting with producing light from electrical discharges, an idea that Heinrich Geissler had first started in the 1850s. “What’s wrong with my light?” Edison is supposed to have asked, when he learned that Moore had started to tinker with light-producing tubes of gas as a potential replacement for the incandescent bulb. Moore is reported undiplomatically to have replied, “It’s too small, too hot and too red.” He left to form his own company.

Moore devised his discharge lighting starting in 1896.[1] The Moore Lamp involved glass tubes from which the air had been removed and a different gas inserted, which would glow when a current was passed through them.

[edit] Marriage

Daniel married Mary Alice Elliott, of New York City, on June 5, 1895. They had three children: Dorothy Mae Moore, (born 1900); Elliott McFarlan Moore (1902-?); and Beatrice Jean Moore, (born 1912).

[edit] Television

In 1924 he invented the vacuum bulbs used in telephotography, and in 1925 improved it for use in television.[2]

[edit] Death

On June 15, 1936, at the age of 67, Moore was shot to death on the lawn of his home in East Orange, New Jersey, by an unemployed inventor who became enraged after finding that an invention he filed for, was already the subject of a patent granted to Moore.[3][4]

[edit] Patents

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Mr. Moore's Etheric Light. The Young Newark Electrician's New And Successful Device.", New York Times, October 2, 1896, Wednesday. Retrieved on 2008-05-26. 
  2. ^ "Practical Television", Time (magazine), 1928. Retrieved on 2008-05-26. "A shy man, pallid from years spent indoors over books and work tables, attended the demonstrations in Schenectady last week. He was Daniel McFarlan Moore, 58, known well wherever electrical technicians congregate, but little elsewhere. Graduated from Lehigh University in 1889 he at once found work with Thomas Alva Edison's Edison Co. Later he organized his own light and electric companies and, after 18 years, sold them to General Electric. Four years ago he invented vacuum bulbs used in telephotography (sending still pictures by electricity or radio); three years ago he improved the bulb so that it would transmit moving pictures. His present researches seek to make lamps that will give light without heat. Towards that goal he has made some progress. On his inventions the Government has granted 100 patents. His home is at East Orange, N. J., not far from that of Mr. Edison." 
  3. ^ "Inventor Is Slain Near Jersey Home.", New York Times, June 16, 1936. Retrieved on 2008-05-26. "Footprint A Clue. D.M. Moore, Electrical Expert, Shot Down Outside Garage In East Orange At Dawn. Assailant Knew Of Plans Victim Arose Earlier Than Usual To Start Trip. Had No Enemies, Police Say. The distinguished career of Daniel McFarlan Moore, whose electrical researches and inventions brought the cooperation and applause of Thomas A. Edison, Sir William Ramsay and other eminent scientists, came to an abrupt and tragic end here early this morning at the hand of an unknown assassin." 
  4. ^ "Moore Murder Key Is Seen By Police In Jersey Suicide.", New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-26. "An extraordinary series of coincidences attending the murder Monday morning in East Orange, N.J., of Daniel McFarlan Moore, eminent engineer, and the suicide yesterday of Jean Philip Gebhardt at New Monmouth, N.J., has caused the authorities to center the murder investigation on the suicide." 

[edit] External link


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