ALEXANDER POPOV, THE FIRST INVENTOR OF THE RADIO
Today, when powerful radio stations transmit the latest news all over the globe, and the remotest corners of the world have the possibility to listen in, we realize how great is the name of Alexander Popov, the first inventor of the radio.
One hundred years ago electrical engineering was a new science, and Alexander Popov took great interest in it. He had neither special equipment nor money to buy it, however he did not give up and managed to achieve results.
In 1896 a meeting took place in one of the auditoriums of the Petersburg University. The greatest scientists of the city were present there. Popov made a report and even demonstrated the first radiograms in the world.
After this the government gave him permission to make his experiments on board of a small ship.
At this time an Italian, Marconi, began making the same kind of experiments. He plagiarized Popov’s ideas to make money out of them. In London he found protection of rich businessmen and the English government. He received patent for his invention in 1897.
In 1903 Popov took part in the work of the first International Conference on the Wireless. Marconi was also present there, and tried to prove that he was the inventor of the radio.
Popov died in 1905. A few years after his death, the Russian Physical Society set up a commission which stated that Popov was the first inventor of the radio.