William Le Roy Emmet

William LeRoy Emmet was an accomplished engineer employed by General Electric. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, he was a pioneer in the areas of current electricity and power generation, best known for his work with steam turbines, mercury vapor, and electric ship propulsion.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Le_Roy_Emmet

William Le Roy Emmet (July 10, 1858 -September 26, 1941) was an electrical engineer who made major contributions to alternating current power systems including the design of large rotary converters.

He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1881. He joined the Edison General Electric Company in 1891. Three years later, after a merger, he became employee of General Electric Company (GE). Emmet was a leading advocate of the electrical propulsion of ships from turbines. His systems were first used in American ships during World War I. He also developed the mercury vapour turbine system for electric power production.

He received the AIEE Edison Medal in 1919 for inventions and developments of electrical apparatus and primo movers. He received the Elliott Cresson Medal of the Franklin Institute in 1920 and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Emmet worked at GE into his 70's and held 122 patents.

Writing

Emmet's autobiography, Autobiography of an engineer, was published by Fort Orange Press in 1930 or 1931.