Marconi #2

Radio waves were first predicted by mathematical work done in 1867 by Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Maxwell noticed wavelike properties of light and similarities in electrical and magnetic observations. His mathematical theory, now called Maxwell's equations, described light waves, and waves of less or more length, as waves of electromagnetism that travel in space, radiated by a charged particle. In 1887, Heinrich Hertz demonstrated the reality of Maxwell's electromagnetic waves by experimentally generating radio waves in his laboratory, showing that they exhibited the same wave properties as light: standing waves, refraction, diffraction, and polarization. The waves were first called "Hertzian waves." The modern term "radio wave" replaced the original name around 1912. (Link).

"Hertz's breakthrough had attracted worldwide excitement when he published his results in 1888, but no one had yet found a practical application for the discovery" (Marconi 27). Hertz's interest in the waves was theoretical, and he died in 1894 (age 36). Marconi was strongly interested in their practicality and/or commercial use.

Besides developing the technology, much of his early career was devoted to obtaining patents in different countries and defending his patents from infringement. He sought exclusive contracts. A big part of advancing the technology was increasing the useful range of radio waves for communication. A big step was succeeding in transmitting radio waves over the Atlantic Ocean. That would allow wireless communication with ships very far from land and between continents. The greater part of practical interest in Marconi's wireless telegraphy was by governments for military use. A private sector exception was Lloyd's of London. "The first major firm to recognize the commercial potential of Marconi's invention was Lloyd's, the world's leading provider of marine insurance and, hence, dealer in shipping information" (88).

P.S. You might wonder how G. Marconi and wireless communication relate to a blog named Correspondence and Coherence. The relationships aren't strong, but there are some. 1. One definiens of correspondent is 'a journalist employed to provide news stories for newspapers or broadcast media.' Such correspondents nowadays often communicate using wireless technology with a cell phone or computer. 2. A coherer "was a primitive form of radio signal detector used in the first radio receivers during the wireless telegraphy era at the beginning of the 20th century" (Wikipedia).  😊