Robert Millikan
1868–1953 — USA
Era: Modern
Brilliance: 9/10 | Stewardship: 7/10 | Composite Index: 63
Measured the electron's charge with oil drops
"The electron: may it never be of any use to anybody."
Biography
Robert Millikan revolutionized experimental physics through his elegant oildrop experiment, which directly measured the elementary charge of the electron and confirmed the quantized nature of electricity. His meticulous work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923 and established him as a leading figure in American science during the early 20th century. Beyond research, Millikan championed science education and the practical applications of physics to technology and industry.
Key Facts
- Conducted the famous Millikan oil-drop experiment (1909-1917) to measure the charge of a single electron
- Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923 for his work on the elementary electric charge and the photoelectric effect
- Served as Director of the Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics at Caltech and helped build it into a world-class institution
- Investigated the photoelectric effect and provided experimental confirmation of Einstein's theory
- Promoted science education and wrote influential textbooks that shaped American physics curricula
He bottled electricity itself to measure the unmeasurable.
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