Contribution of Sir John Ambrose Fleming.. in field of technology.

1. BIOGRAPHY
OF
SIR JOHN AMBROSE FLEMING
MADE BY:
HITARTH PATEL
NIRMA UNIVERSITY
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2. SIR JOHN AMBROSE FLEMING
(NOVEMBER 29,1849-APRIL18,1938)

3. INTRODUCTION
NATIONALITY: British
Sir John Ambrose Fleming was an
English Electrical Enginner and
physicist known for the invention of
the first thermionic valve/vacuum
tube, the radio transmitter with
which the first translatic radio
transmission was made and the
famous left-hand rule used in
physics.
John Ambrose Fleming

4. LIFE STORY
CHILDHOOD
Born on November 29,1849 in a small city of Lancaster, England,
UK, John Ambrose Fleming was known by his middle name,
Ambrose. His father, James Fleming was a minister in the
Congregational Church and his mother was Mary Ann Bazely.
Ambrose was the eldest of their seven children.
When he was 3 years old, the family moved to London. He was
educated by his mother to age 10 and learned to use mechanical
tools in his grandfather’s cement works.

5. Ambrose was cogenitally deaf, a condition that worsened with age.
It didn’t affect him too badly until he was middle-aged.
At age 11, he built model steam engines and boats. He constructed
a camera from a cigar box, becoming a skilled photographer,
making his own photographic plates from collodion and silver
nitrate. He devloped his own photos using potassium cyanide.
During his childhood he learned about electricity and built
batteries and capacitors. He used these to give powerful shocks to
any willing friends who expressed doubts about the potency of his
homemade electrical equipments.

6. SCHOOLING
Fleming started schooling at about the age of 10, attending a
private school where he particularly enjoyed geometry.
At the age 12 he started University College School. He came
bottom of his class in Latin, but excelled in Mathematics. He
decided to become an engineer but it was beyond the family’s
financial resources. He reached his goal via a path that
alternated education with paid employment.
He enrolled for a BSc degree at University College, London,
graduated in 1870, and studied under the mathematician
Augustus de Morgan and the physicist George Carey Foster.
Augustus de Morgan
George Carey Foster

7. He became a student of chemistry at the Royal College of Science in
South Kensington in London where he studied Alessandro Volta’s
battery, which was the subject of his first scientific paper.
In 1874, due to financial problems he became science master at
Cheltenham College and as his scientific research continued he
corresponded with James Clerk Maxwell at Cambridge University.
After saving €400 and securing a grant of €50 a year, in October 1877 at
the age of 27, he once again enrolled as a student, this time at
Cambridge. He was among the two or three University students who
attended Maxwell’s last course
He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Chemistry and
Physics and then obtained a DSc from London
Volta’s Battery

8. ALMA MATER
The Alma mater of Fleming was University College, London and
Royal College of Science.
The theory of evolution is totally inadequate to explain the
origin and manifestation of the inorganic world.
-Sir John Ambrose Fleming

9. STARTING OF THE CAREER
After studying at University College, London and Cambridge
University, Fleming became a consultant to the Edison Electric
Light Company in London, an advisor to the Marconi Wireless
Telegraph Company and a popular teacher at University College
(1885-1926), where he was the first to hold the title of
Professor of Electrical Engineering.
Early in his career he investigated photometry, worked with
high voltage alternating currents, and designed some of the
first electric lighting for ships.
Guglielmo Marconi

10. Professor Fleming enjoyed both research and lecturing. As a
lecturer, his students said that his lectures were well thought out,
clearly presented and he also devised methods to remember things
such as Fleming’s left hand rule.
In 1894 and 1917 Ambrose Fleming was invited to deliver the Royal
Institution Christmas Lecture on the work of an Electric Current
and our useful servants: Magnetism and Electricity respectively.
In 1904, working for the Marconi company to improve transatlantic
radio reception, Fleming invented first thermionic vacuum tube,
the two electrode diode, which he called the oscillation valve, for
which he received a patent on 16, November. He retired from
University College London in 1927 at the age of 77
John Ambrose Fleming

11. Fleming working with high Voltage Currents First Transatlantic Radio Transmitter by Fleming

12. BECOMING A SCIENTIST
Fleming enrolled at London’s University College at age 16, intending
to become a schoolteacher. He took courses in Mathematics,
Chemistry, and Experimental Physics.He found work in a
stockbroker‘s office and studied at University of London.He
obtained a Bachelor’s degree with first-class honors in 1870.
Fleming worked as a teacher. In 1872, he enrolled as a Chemistry
student at the Science Schools in South Kensington. He watched
Frederick Guthrie demonstrate the asymmetrical behaviour of
electrically charged hot metals,which was the Edison Effect.
Years later, in 1904, Fleming utilizes this asymmetrical behaviour to
invent the diode and begin the electronic age.
Edison Effect

13. HOBBIES
Sir John Ambrose Fleming was a noted photographer, painted
water colours and enjoyed climbing the Alps.
We must not build on the sands of an uncertain and
everchanging science... But upon the rock of inspired
Scriptures. -Sir John Ambrose Fleming

14. FIELD OF WORK
Fields: Electrical Engineer and Physicist
Sir John Ambrose Fleming is renowed as the “Father of Electronics”.
In November 1905, he patented the “Fleming Valve”. As a rectifying
diode, and forerunner to the triode valve and many related
structures, it can also be considered to be the device that gave birth
to modern electronics.
Fleming Valve

15. CONTRIBUTION IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The work of John Ambrose Fleming in inventing the thermionic
valve/vacuum tube, arguably laid the basis for modern
electronics. The so-called Fleming Valve was the first electronic
tube device, and was used to detect high-frequency wireless
signals.

16. He also investigated Edison Effect thereby creating a tube
that controlled the flow of electricity in the same way that a
fluid valve worked.
According to Edison Effect, heating certain materials could
cause them to emit electrons that cold be attracted to
electrode held at a positive potential with respect to the
emitter especially when electrodes were in a vaccum.
Fleming also made other important contributions to the
practical applications of electricity,further contributing to
his field through the work as a noted educator and author.

17. ACHIEVEMENTS BY FLEMING
• In 1904, Fleming invented a device called the oscillation valve, also called the
thermionic diode.
• Fleming’s diode passed current in only one direction in a circuit and hence
could convert AC electricity into DC electricity. It can be described as a current
rectifier under this mode of operation.
• Fleming’s diode together with a galvanometer in a tuned electrical circuit act
as a rectifying detector of radio waves.
• Fleming’s device began the age of electronics. It was then an essential
component in electronics goods such as radios, televisions and computers.

18. • Fleming introduced left-hand rule for motors and right-hand rule
for generators to help himself and also to his students remember
the relationship between the directions of electric current,electric
field,and force.
• Vaccum tubes are used in electric guitars.
• Fleming designed power plant that Marconi used to transmit the
first radio message across the Atlantic.
Marconi-Fleming Valve Radio

19. 1885: Right and Left Hand Rules
81882
Became Consultant to
the Edison Lighting
Company.
1885
Started working in
Marconi Wireless
Telegraph Company.
1904: Vaccum Tubes

20. HONORS TO JOHN AMBROSE FLEMING
• In 1910, Fleming was Hughes Medal for his research in electricity
and electrical measurements.
• He was honoured with Albert Medal in 1921 for his invention of
thermionic valve.
Hughes Medal
Albert Medal

21. • In 1928 ,he was honoured with Faraday Medal of the institution of
Electrical Engineers.
• In 1929, he was knighted for service to Science and Industry,
becoming Sir Ambrose Fleming
• He was honoured with Duddell Medal of the Physical Society of
London in1930.
Faraday Medal
Duddell Medal

22. • In 1933, he was honoured with the Institute of Radio Engineers Medal
of Honor.
• He was honoured with Franklin Medal in 1935.
Institute of Radio Engineers Medal of Honor
Franklin Medal

23. DOCTORAL THESIS: ELECTRICITY TREATED EXPERIMENTALLY
Fleming began working as a Science teacher at Cheltenham College.
He also began publishing his own work. He gave the inaugural paper
at the first ever meeting of Physical Society of London in 1874. He
studied the works of Michael Faraday,and in 1875 reported on
electromagnetic induction to the British Association for the
Advancement of Science.He studied James Clerk Maxwell’s work in
detail.
In 1877, Fleming enrolled at University of Cambridge, where he
battled to understand Maxwell’s very difficult lectures in
electromagnetism. In 1879, the University of London awarded
Fleming a DSc for his thesis Electricity Treated Experimentally, and
the following year Cambridge awarded him a first class honors
degree in Chemistry and Physics.

24. DOCTORAL ADVISOR: FREDERICK GUTHRIE
Frederick Guthrie was Doctoral advisor of John Ambrose
Fleming. Frederick Guthrie was a British physicist and chemist
and academic author.
He was the son of Alexander Guthrie, a London tradesman,
and the younger brother of mathematician Francis Guthrie.
He founded the Physical Society of London in 1874.He
believed that science should be based on experimentation
rather than discussion.
He mentored John Ambrose Fleming and was instrumental in
turning his interest from chemistry to electricity.
Frederick Guthrie

25. DOCTORAL STUDENT: HAROLD BARLOW
Harold Barlow was a British Engineer.
He was the son of Leonard Barlow. He was born in Islington,
London. He entered University College, London where he
spent most of his working life.
He was taught by Ambrose Fleming, who held the Pender
Chair there. Barlow went on to succeed Fleming in that
chair, and also in the post of head of department.
Harold Barlow

26. LATER LIFE AND DEATH
In June 1887,at the age of 37, Fleming married 30 year old Clara
Ripley Pratt,a lawyer’s daughter who died in 1917.
In 1926,age 76, Fleming retired to the small coastal town of
Sidmouth to share a house with two of his sisters. He converted
the basement into laboratory.
Fleming was devout Anglican. After he retired, he preached
about the resurrection and founded the creationist Evolution
Protest Movement to attack the theory of evolution by natural
selection.

27. In July 1928, he married soprano soloist Olive May Frank’s.
Sir John Ambrose Fleming died at the age of 95 in his home in
Sidmouth on April 18,1945. He had no children and left significant
amounts of money to Christian charities that helped the poor.

28. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY JOHN AMBROSE FLEMING
Fleming was the author of more than hundred scientific papers and
books.Professor Sir John Ambrose Fleming write a number of books
on a variety of subjects from electrical technology through Chemistry
to Mathematics and Christian religion.Fleming’s first book was
published in 1894,and his last book just seven years before he died in
1938.
Some of the Books by Fleming are:
• Electric Lamps and Electric Lighting:A course of four lectures on
electric illumination.(1894)
• The Alternate Current Transformer in Theory and Practice “The
Electrician” Printing and Publishing Company(1896)
• Magnets and Electric Currents E.&F.N.Spon.(1898)

29. • Waves and Ripples in Water,Air and Aether MacMillan(1902).
• The Principle of Electric Wave Telegraphy (1906).
• The Propagation of Electric Currents in Telephone and Telegraphy
Conductors (1908).
• An Elementary Manual of Radiotelegraph and
Radiotelephony(1911) .
• The Thermionic Valve and its Development in Radio Telegraphy
and Telephony(1919).
• Fifty Years of Electricity(1921).
• Introduction to Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony (1924).
• Evolution or Creation?(1938).

30. ARTICLES BY JOHN AMBROSE FLEMING
Sir John Ambrose Fleming also published many articles related
to the field of Science.
Some of the Articles published in Popular Science Monthly:
• “The Electronic Theory of Electricity” in Popular Science
Monthly,61(May 1902)
• “Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy I” in Popular Science
Monthly,63(June 1903)
• “Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy II” in Popular Science
Monthly,63(July 1903)
• “Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy III” in Popular Science
Monthly,63(August 1903)
• “Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy IV” in Popular Science
Monthly,63(September 1903)

31. Sir John Ambrose Fleming also wrote articles for the 1911
Encyclopaedia Britannica.
• “Amperemeter”in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition,1911)
• “Electrical Machine”in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th
edition,1911)
• “Electricity”in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition,1911)
• “Electrokinetics” in Encyclopaedia Britannica
(11th edition,1911)
• “Electrostatics”in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition,1911)
• “Induction Coil” in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition,1911)
• “Telegraph” in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition,1911)
• “Wheatstone’s Bridge”in Encyclopaedia Britannica
(11th edition,1911)
• “Electromagnetism” in Encyclopaedia Britannica
(11th edition,1911)
• “Transformer” in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition,1911).

32. INSPIRING STORY
Sir John Ambrose Fleming made many remarkable advancements in
the field of electricity and also helped in our understanding of
electricity. Fleming was the eldest of seven children to his father
James Fleming and his mother Mary.Fleming begin his academic life
at the age of ten when he attended a private school. He enjoyed
geometry.
He learned by a book called “Child’s Guide to Knowledge” by the age
of ten. At 11, John Ambrose Fleming knew he wanted to become an
Engineer.He built his own workshop where he would mend away
building model boats and engines.He even built a basic camera that
would spark a lifelong passion for photography
Questions from the Book
Child’s Guide to Knowledge

33. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• www.electronics-notes.com
• www.britannica.com
• www.encyclopedia.com
• www.interestingengineering.com
• www.en.m.wikisource.org
• www.famousscientists.org

34. THANK YOU