Frederic C. Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
F.C. Williams
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| Born |
Frederic Calland Williams
26 June 1911 Romiley, Stockport
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| Died | 11 August 1977 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | F.C. Williams Freddie Williams |
| Citizenship | British |
| Education | Stockport Grammar School |
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| Scientific career | |
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| Thesis | Problems of spontaneous oscillation in electrical circuits (1936) |
| Doctoral students |
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Sir Frederic Calland Williams (26 June 1911 – 11 August 1977), also known as F.C. Williams or Freddie Williams, was an English engineer. He was a very important person in the early development of radar and computer technology.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frederic Williams was born in Romiley, a town near Stockport, England. He went to Stockport Grammar School for his early education.
He earned a special scholarship to study engineering at the University of Manchester. There, he received his first two university degrees. Later, he continued his studies at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he earned a higher degree called a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in 1936.
Amazing Work and Career
Working with Radar
During World War II, Frederic Williams worked at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE). He played a big part in making radar technology much better. Radar was very important for finding enemy planes and ships during the war.
Building Early Computers
In 1946, after the war, Williams became the head of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Manchester. This is where he made history!
With his colleagues, Tom Kilburn and Geoff Tootill, he helped build the very first electronic computer that could store its own programs. This amazing machine was famously known as the Manchester Baby. It was a huge step forward for computers.
Williams also invented the Williams tube. This was an early device that computers used to remember information, like a very simple memory stick. He also guided the research of his students, Richard Grimsdale and Tom Kilburn, who were working on their advanced degrees.
Awards and Special Honours
In 1950, Frederic Williams was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honour for scientists and engineers in the United Kingdom.
His nomination said that during the war, he was the main expert on the electrical parts of many radar devices. It also mentioned his deep understanding of how things work in physics. After the war, he successfully created an electronic storage tube for the Manchester Baby computer. This storage tube worked because of his careful understanding of how electrons behave on a screen.
Personal Life
Frederic Williams passed away in Manchester in 1977. He was 66 years old.
