George O. Squier
Encyclopedia
Major General
George Owen Squier (March 21, 1865- March 24, 1934) was born in Dryden, Michigan
, United States
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1887 and received a Ph.D.
from Johns Hopkins University
in 1893.
George Squier wrote and edited many books and articles on the subject of radio
and electricity
. An inventor, his biggest contribution was that of multiplexing
in 1910 for which he was elected to the National Academy of Science in 1919.
As executive officer
to the Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Signal Corps in 1907, Squier was instrumental in the establishment of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
, the first organizational ancestor of the US Air Force. He also was the first military passenger in an airplane on September 12, 1908, and working with the Wright Brothers
was responsible for the purchase of the first airplanes by the US Army
in 1909. From May 1916 to February 1917 he was Chief of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
, the first successor of the Aeronautical Division, before being promoted to major general
and appointed Chief Signal Officer during World War I
.
In 1922 he created Wired Radio, a service that piped music
to businesses and subscribers over wires. Liking how 'Kodak' was a made up name, in 1934, he decided later to change the service's name to 'Muzak'.
Asked how to say his name, he told The Literary Digest
it was pronounced like the word square.
He died in 1934 of pneumonia
.
In 1943, the U.S. Navy
named troopship
in his honor. It was the lead ship of its class, which was known as the General G. O. Squier class
of transport ships.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
George Owen Squier (March 21, 1865- March 24, 1934) was born in Dryden, Michigan
Dryden, Michigan
Dryden is a village in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 815 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Dryden Township.-Education:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1887 and received a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1893.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
. An inventor, his biggest contribution was that of multiplexing
Multiplexing
The multiplexed signal is transmitted over a communication channel, which may be a physical transmission medium. The multiplexing divides the capacity of the low-level communication channel into several higher-level logical channels, one for each message signal or data stream to be transferred...
in 1910 for which he was elected to the National Academy of Science in 1919.
As executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
to the Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Signal Corps in 1907, Squier was instrumental in the establishment of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
The Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps was the world's first heavier-than-air military aviation organization and the progenitor of the United States Air Force. A component of the U.S...
, the first organizational ancestor of the US Air Force. He also was the first military passenger in an airplane on September 12, 1908, and working with the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
was responsible for the purchase of the first airplanes by the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1909. From May 1916 to February 1917 he was Chief of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
The Aviation Section, Signal Corps, was the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force. It replaced and absorbed the Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps, and was succeeded briefly by the Division of Military...
, the first successor of the Aeronautical Division, before being promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and appointed Chief Signal Officer during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1922 he created Wired Radio, a service that piped music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
to businesses and subscribers over wires. Liking how 'Kodak' was a made up name, in 1934, he decided later to change the service's name to 'Muzak'.
Asked how to say his name, he told The Literary Digest
Literary Digest
The Literary Digest was an influential general interest weekly magazine published by Funk & Wagnalls. Founded by Isaac Kaufmann Funk in 1890, it eventually merged with two similar weekly magazines, Public Opinion and Current Opinion.-History:...
it was pronounced like the word square.
He died in 1934 of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.
In 1943, the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
named troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
in his honor. It was the lead ship of its class, which was known as the General G. O. Squier class
General G. O. Squier class transport ship
The General G. O. Squier class of transport ships was built for the U.S. Navy during World War II.The first ship was launched in November 1942, while the last was launched in April 1945. In that span the United States produced 30 General G. O. Squier-class transports...
of transport ships.