Radio Telegraphy

Guglielmo Marconi, Britain, patent 12,039 of 1896. Wireless across oceans, and the fight with Tesla.

Overview

Marconi patented wireless telegraphy in Britain in 1896 and America as patent 586,193 (1897), building a company that spanned the Atlantic signal in 1901. Tesla's earlier radio patents, granted 1900, conflicted; litigation ended only in 1943 when the US Supreme Court favored Tesla months after his death, freeing wartime radar manufacturers. Marconi shared the 1909 Nobel. Ship distress calls, starting with the 1909 Republic rescue, proved the value. Broadcast radio later grew from his spark-era scaffold.