Vannevar Bush was born on March 11, 1890, in Everett, Massachusetts. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in science and technology, often taking apart and reassembling mechanical devices just to understand how they worked.
Bush excelled in school and earned his Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Tufts College in 1913. He went on to pursue further studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he obtained his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in the same field.
Upon completing his education, Bush joined the faculty at MIT, where he conducted research on electrical engineering and developed several innovative technologies. In 1922, he founded The Raytheon Company, which would later become a leading American defense contractor.
During World War II, Bush was appointed as the head of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development. It was under his leadership that the Manhattan Project was initiated, a top-secret program aimed at developing the atomic bomb. Bush's contributions to the project were crucial in its success and eventual tragic outcome.
In his personal life, Bush was a devoted family man. He married and had two sons, Richard and John. Richard went on to become a surgeon, while John became the president of Millipore Corporation.
Aside from his involvement in the Manhattan Project, Bush was also credited with one of the early versions of the World Wide Web. His innovative spirit and dedication to scientific advancement continue to inspire engineers and researchers to this day.
Notably, Vannevar Bush worked alongside the legendary physicist Albert Einstein during the Manhattan Project. Together, they played significant roles in shaping the course of history during World War II.