Origins & Early Life

Edward Mills Purcell (August 30, 1912 – March 7, 1997) was an American physicist who shared the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics with Felix Bloch for his independent discovery (published 1946) of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in liquids and in solids. NMR has become widely used to study the molecular structure of pure materials and the composition of mixtures. Friends and colleagues knew him as Ed Purcell. Edward Mills Purcell was born on August 30, 1912, in Taylorville, Illinois, the son of Edward A.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Purcell and Mary Elizabeth Mills. Purcell received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1933, followed by his M.A. (1935) and his Ph.D. (1938) in Physics from Harvard University.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was a member of the Alpha Xi chapter of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity while at Purdue. After spending the years of World War II working at the MIT Radiation Laboratory on the development of microwave radar, Purcell returned to Harvard to do research. In December 1945, he discovered nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with his colleagues Robert Pound and Henry Torrey. NMR provides scientists with an elegant and precise way of determining chemical structure and properties...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Turing — Contemporary (Born in 1912) (1912): Father of theoretical computer science, known for the Turing machine and codebreaking.
• Alfredo Stroessner — Contemporary (Born in 1912) (1912): Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 to 1989, known for repression.
• August Strindberg — Contemporary (Died in 1912) (1912): Pioneering Swedish literary figure, playwright, and essayist of the late 19th century.
• Allen Ginsberg — Contemporary (Died in 1997) (1997): Pioneering American poet, central figure of the Beat Generation, known for 'Howl'.
• Asa Butterfield — Contemporary (Born in 1997) (1997): English actor known for roles in 'Sex Education' and early film recognition.
• Bethany Antonia — Contemporary (Born in 1997) (1997): British actress and singer known for roles in fantasy and television dramas.
• Antonio da Correggio — Shared historical date (08-30 · Born) (1489): Master of the Parma School, known for sensuous, dynamic High Renaissance painting.
• Cameron Diaz — Shared historical date (08-30 · Born) (1972): American actress known for comedy and drama, with films grossing over $3 billion.
• Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud — Shared historical date (03-07 · Born) (1955): Saudi billionaire, investor, and influential member of the House of Saud.
• Albert Fert — Shared historical date (03-07 · Born) (1938): Pioneering physicist known for the discovery of giant magnetoresistance.
• 1912 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1912
• August 30 (08-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 30
• 1997 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1997
• March 7 (03-07) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 7