Inventor. Born in Cortland, New York, he was an electrical engineer entrepreneur, who founded 8 companies and earned more than 350 patents, most notably for the gyroscopic compass. In 1908, he was issued a patent for the first workable gyrocompass system. The unit was adopted by the US Navy in 1911 and played a major role in World War I. In the following decades, his Sperry compass was adopted by steamships such as the Queen Mary, airplanes and the warships of World War II. He also invented a wide range of devices, including electric trolley cars, high-intensity searchlights, dynamos and railroad safety devices. In 1930, the US Navy named the USS Sperry in his honor.
Inventor. Born in Cortland, New York, he was an electrical engineer entrepreneur, who founded 8 companies and earned more than 350 patents, most notably for the gyroscopic compass. In 1908, he was issued a patent for the first workable gyrocompass system. The unit was adopted by the US Navy in 1911 and played a major role in World War I. In the following decades, his Sperry compass was adopted by steamships such as the Queen Mary, airplanes and the warships of World War II. He also invented a wide range of devices, including electric trolley cars, high-intensity searchlights, dynamos and railroad safety devices. In 1930, the US Navy named the USS Sperry in his honor.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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