Karl Taylor Compton

Karl Compton
Compton (age 57) in the U.S. Radar Mission
President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In office 1930–1948
Preceded by	Samuel Wesley Stratton
Succeeded by	James Rhyne Killian
Personal details
Born	(1887-09-14)September 14, 1887 Wooster, Ohio, U.S.
Died	June 22, 1954(1954-06-22) (aged 66) New York City, New York, U.S.
Relatives	Arthur Compton (brother) Wilson Martindale Compton (brother)
Education	College of Wooster (BA, MS) Princeton University (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Physics
Institutions	College of Wooster Reed College Princeton University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Thesis	The Influence of the Contact Difference of Potential between the Plates Emitting and Receiving Electrons Liberated by Ultraviolet Light on the Measurement of the Velocities of These Electrons (1911)
Doctoral advisor	Owen Willans Richardson
Doctoral students	Henry DeWolf Smyth John Quincy Stewart Carl Henry Eckart Rao/Yao Yutai Philip M. Morse Wayne B. Nottingham

Karl Taylor Compton (September 14, 1887 – June 22, 1954) was a prominent American physicist and president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1930 to 1948.^[1] A professor of nuclear physics at Princeton, Compton was recruited to MIT to promote instruction and research in basic science rather than MIT's previous emphasis on vocational training.

During his presidency, MIT experienced formidable growth in its research operations. Compton encouraged close connections to the U.S. government's scientific and military apparatus. During World War II, Compton served in a many federal government leadership roles related to military technology, particularly the development of radar. Along with MIT Chancellor Vannevar Bush, Compton advocated federal funding of basic science research.