Russell Varian | |
|---|---|
 Russell Varian photographed by Ansel Adams | |
| Born | Russell Harrison Varian April 24, 1898 Washington, District of Columbia, United States |
| Died | July 28, 1959 (aged 61) Alaska, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (BS, MS) |
| Organization | Sierra Club |
| Known for | Co-invented the klystron, co-founded Varian Associates |
| Spouses |
Dorothy Hill (m. 1947) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | John Osborne Varian (father) Agnes Varian (mother) |
| Relatives | Sheila Varian (niece) |
| Awards | John Price Wetherill Medal (1950) |
Sigurd Varian | |
|---|---|
 Sigurd Varian photographed by Ansel Adams | |
| Born | Sigurd Fergus Varian May 4, 1901 Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Died | October 18, 1961 (aged 60) One mile offshore of the Pacific Coast of Mexico |
| Burial place | Guadalajara, Mexico |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | California Polytechnic State University (did not graduate) |
| Occupation(s) | Pilot, airplane mechanic, engineer |
| Known for | Co-invented the klystron, co-founded Varian Associates |
| Spouse | Winifred H. Varian |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | John Osborne Varian (father) Agnes Varian (mother) |
| Relatives | Sheila Varian (niece) |
| Awards | John Price Wetherill Medal (1950) |
Russell Harrison Varian (April 24, 1898 – July 28, 1959) and Sigurd Fergus Varian (May 4, 1901 – October 18, 1961)[1] were American brothers who founded one of the earliest high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. Born to theosophist parents who helped lead the utopian community of Halcyon, California, they grew up in a home with multiple creative influences. The brothers showed an early interest in electricity, and after independently establishing careers in electronics and aviation they came together to invent the klystron, which became a critical component of radar, telecommunications and other microwave technologies.
In 1948 they founded Varian Associates to market the klystron and other inventions;[2] the company became the first to move into Stanford Industrial Park, the birthplace of Silicon Valley. Both brothers were noted for their progressive political views; Russell was a lifelong supporter of the Sierra Club, Sigurd helped found the housing cooperative of Ladera, California, and Varian Associates instituted innovative employee policies that were ahead of their time. In 1950, the Varians were awarded the John Price Wetherill Medal for the development of the klystron,[3] and both were posthumously inducted into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame in 1993.[3]
- ^ Britannica 2012.
- ^ Gauvin 1995.
- ^ a b SVEC 1993.