William Dixon Weaver

Background

William Dixon Weaver was born in Greensburg, Pa. , the son of Caspar and Maria (Massena) Weaver.

Education

After completing his elementary education, in 1875 he entered the department of agriculture and mechanic arts in Kentucky University (later the University of Kentucky). A year later he obtained an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, from which he was graduated in 1880 as a cadet engineer.

Career

He accompanied the first Greely relief expedition in 1883 on the Yantic, made a cruise of the world as an assistant engineer on the Omaha (1885 - 88), and spent two years in the waters of the Orient. During a leave of absence in 1884 he studied electricity and conducted some investigations in the electrical laboratories of the Sorbonne, Paris, and the School of Electrical Engineering, London. While he was stationed at the Brooklyn navy yard (1890) he designed an electrical recorder, used in speed trials, and an apparatus with electrical adjustments for the calibration of steam-engine indicators. Resigning from the navy in 1892, he joined the firm of E. G. Bernard, manufacturers of electrical apparatus in Troy, N. Y. , but after a year he gave this up to engage in editorial work. From 1893 to 1896 he was editor of the Electrical World. In 1896 he became associated with James H. McGraw in the founding of the American Electrician and was the first editor. Three years later McGraw consolidated the Electrical World and Electrical Engineering and subsequently absorbed the American Electrician, publishing all three as the Electrical World. Except for a leave of absence during the Spanish-American War, when he served as volunteer chief engineer on the Glacier, Weaver continued as editor until his retirement in May 1912. He was intensely interested in electrical engineering as a profession and in the organization of professional societies. It was he who in 1895 made the suggestion to Andrew Carnegie which later led to the erection of a building in New York for the engineering societies of the United States. To him is due the plan of organization and development of the Society of Illuminating Engineers. He was also active in the development of the electrical engineering library, part of the great Engineering Societies' Library in New York. In 1904 he was made treasurer and business manager of the International Electrical Congress held in St. Louis, Mo. , and did much to make it successful. In commemoration of his services in the organization and development of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, a memorial tablet to him was unveiled at the time of the annual meeting, May 16, 1919. His collection of publications on the French Revolution (now at Princeton University), to which he devoted his leisure, was said to be one of the largest in existence on that subject. After retiring to his home in Charlottesville, Va. , he was active in civic affairs. He died in Charlottesville, survived by his wife and six children.

Achievements

• He was a founder of the American Electro-Chemical Society and for six years a manager of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Standard Tables for Electric Wiremen. With Instructions for Wiremen and Linemen, Underwriters' Rules, and Useful Formulæ and Data

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Catalogue of the Wheeler gift of books, pamphlets and periodicals in the library of the American Ins

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

Connections

On July 26, 1901, in Bremen, Germany, he married Mildred Niebuhr, by whom he had seven children.

Father:

Caspar Weaver

Mother:

Maria (Massena) Weaver

Spouse:

Mildred Niebuhr