Background
Baldwin, Ralph Belknap was born on June 6, 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Son of Melvin D. and Julie (Belknap) Baldwin.
("The proximity fuze ...used with deadly effectiveness dur...)
"The proximity fuze ...used with deadly effectiveness during the war, particularly in the air defense of Britain...critical role in protecting the US fleet from Japanese air attack.."
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Astronomer manufacturing company executive
Baldwin, Ralph Belknap was born on June 6, 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Son of Melvin D. and Julie (Belknap) Baldwin.
Bachelor of Science, University Michigan, 1934. Master of Science, University Michigan, 1935. Doctor of Philosophy, University Michigan, 1937.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Michigan, 1975. Doctor of Science (honorary), Grand Valley State University, 1989. Doctor of Science (honorary), Aquinas College, 1999.
His book, The Face of the Moon made the case for the impact nature of lunar craters. He published The Measure of the Moon in 1963. Prior to his lunar work he was Senior Physicist at Johns Hopkins University"s Applied Physics Laboratory during World World War II working on the Proximity fuze.
In 1947 he began working for Oliver Machinery Company.
In 1970 he became president of the company and chairman of the board in 1982. He retired in 1984. He died on October 23, 2010.
Baldwin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan, receiving his Bachelor of Surgery in 1934, Master of Surgery in 1935, and Ph.
Doctorate. in 1937, on the "spectroscopic study of novae".
After graduation he taught astronomy at the University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University from 1935 through 1942. The photographs at the Adler Planetarium, where he lectured to earn extra money, sparked his interest in lunar craters. This led to an article in Popular Astronomy in 1942 and later his book The Face of the Moon, in 1949.
Baldwin has been honored for each of his three careers.
(Book by Ralph B Baldwin)
("The proximity fuze ...used with deadly effectiveness dur...)
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Geophysical Union, Meteoritical Society (Leonard medal 1986, Barringer medal 2000), American Academy Arts and Sciences. Member American Astronomical Society, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (honorary), Grand Rapids Museum Association, National Association of Manufacturers (director 1963-1964), Employers Association Grand Rapids (president 1960-1964), Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association (president 1964-1968).
Married Lois Virginia Johnston, August 3, 1940. Children: Melvin Dana II, Pamela, Bruce Belknap.