Elmer Ambrose Sperry

About

Inventor of the gyrocompass who made navigation through land, water, and air much less risky.

Before Fame

He moved to Chicago to open the Sperry Electric Company after graduating from Cornell.

Trivia

His compasses were adopted by the U.S. Navy. The first one was tested on a ship in 1910.

Family Life

His mother died a day after he was born, and he was raised by his father.

Associated With

He won the Franklin Institute's Elliott Cresson Medal, which was also awarded to the inventor of the tabulating machine Herman Hollerith.