William Redington Hewlett

William Redington Hewlett was a renowned American Electrical engineer and Philanthropist who co-founded the Hewlett-Packard company with David Packard. He was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and his family later moved to San Francisco, California, where he attended Lowell High School (San Francisco). Hewlett's interest in Electrical engineering was influenced by his father, Albion Walter Hewlett, a Surgeon who encouraged his son's curiosity in Science and Technology. He was also inspired by the work of Guglielmo Marconi, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison.

● Early Life and Education

Hewlett's early life was marked by a strong emphasis on Education, with his family encouraging his interest in Science and Mathematics. He attended MIT, where he studied Electrical engineering and was influenced by the work of Vannevar Bush and Norbert Wiener. Hewlett also spent time at Stanford University, where he met his future business partner, David Packard, and was taught by Frederick Terman, a renowned Electrical engineer and Academic. During his time at Stanford University, Hewlett was exposed to the work of Lee de Forest, John R. Pierce, and William Shockley.

● Career

Hewlett's career began in the 1930s, when he worked at General Electric and International Telephone and Telegraph. He also spent time at Bell Labs, where he was influenced by the work of Claude Shannon and John Bardeen. In the 1940s, Hewlett served in the United States Army, where he worked on Radar technology and was stationed at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. During his time in the United States Army, Hewlett was influenced by the work of Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, and Leslie Groves.

● Hewlett-Packard

In 1939, Hewlett co-founded Hewlett-Packard with David Packard in a small Garage in Palo Alto, California. The company's first product was the HP200A, an Audio oscillator that was used by Walt Disney to test sound systems for Fantasia. Hewlett-Packard quickly grew, and the company became a leading manufacturer of Electronic test equipment, including Oscilloscopes and Spectrum analyzers. The company's success was influenced by the work of William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain, who developed the Transistor at Bell Labs. Hewlett-Packard also collaborated with other companies, including IBM, Intel, and Microsoft.

● Personal Life

Hewlett was married to Flora Lamson Hewlett and had five children. He was a Philanthropist and supported various Charitable organizations, including the Hewlett Foundation, which was established by him and his wife. Hewlett was also a Nature conservationist and supported the work of the Sierra Club and the World Wildlife Fund. He was influenced by the work of John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Rachel Carson.

● Legacy

Hewlett's legacy is marked by his contributions to the development of Electronic test equipment and his role in co-founding Hewlett-Packard. He was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1983 and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1992. Hewlett also received the IEEE Medal of Honor and the Marconi Society's Marconi Award. His work has been recognized by NASA, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Sciences.

● Later Life and Death

In his later life, Hewlett continued to be involved in Philanthropy and supported various Charitable organizations. He died on January 12, 2001, at the age of 87, in Palo Alto, California. Hewlett's death was mourned by the Technology community, and he was remembered for his contributions to the development of Electronic test equipment and his role in co-founding Hewlett-Packard. His legacy continues to be celebrated by Google, Apple Inc., and other Technology companies. Category:American businesspeople