Robert Noyce Biography

BIRTH: December 12, 1927 Burlington, Iowa, USA

DEATH: June 3, 1990 (aged 62) Austin, Texas, USA

Robert Noyce Biography : Inventions and Facts

Robert Noyce was a great American founder, mentor, engineer and inventor. He was the founder of one of the biggest companies, Intel, and the co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor. He made the microchip that fueled the personal computer revolution and made the Silicon Valley famous. He was dubbed ‘The Mayor of Silicon Valley’.

Robert Norton Noyce was born on 12th December, 1927, in Iowa to Ralph Brewster and Harriet May Norton. His father was a minister, and his mother was known to be a strong-willed, intelligent woman. Everyone in his house was well-educated. So, Noyce’s family paid special attention to his studies. Noyce had a sharp mind and was highly intelligent. He attended Grinnell High School and graduated in 1945. He continued his studies and went to Grinnell College to study mathematics and science. Noyce passed with double majors in physics and mathematics in 1949.

Apart from being an excellent student, he liked handicrafts. At the age of twelve, he built a big aircraft with his brother and tested it from the roof of the Grinnell College. In his free time, he used to work on his scientific plans, build various ship models, a bed, a skate sharpener, a xylophone, etc. He tried to join the Air Force, as he had always been interested in aeroplanes. However, he was not selected to be a fighter pilot because he was color blind. After his rejection by the Air Force, Noyce joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a program in physics. He graduated with a doctorate in 1953.

Noyce started his career officially in 1953. His thesis on the transistor helped him to gain knowledge about the technology. He received offers from big companies like IBM and Bell Labs. Noyce rejected both of these offers and joined the television and radio company, Philco Corporation as a research engineer. He worked there for three years and made transistors. In 1956, Noyce moved to California and met one of the inventors of the transistor, William Shockley. He offered Noyce a position in his company, Shockley Semiconductor Laboratories, who were a group of researchers. Noyce didn’t work there for very long. He started his own company, Fairchild Semiconductor, and became the largest shareholder in IBM.

His company was a success. He was involved in making transistors and other silicon devices. Seven of his devices got patented, including the integrated circuit. It was a silicon chip that could hold millions of transistors and resistors, and be utilized as an amplifier, timer, computer memory and more. His design was revolutionary in the semiconductor industry.

In 1968, Noyce launched his company, Intel and left Fairchild Semiconductor. He formed the company with two other people. Noyce served as the president of Intel and took the company to new heights. Today, it is the most significant producer of semiconductor chips in the world. Noyce’s invention was named as one of the most important inventions of the twentieth century.

The year 1971 was another excellent year for Noyce and his company. He was the first person to create the single-chip microprocessor. This small chip began to sell in the market. It was a considerable advancement of technology by Noyce. His chips were used in every processor and computer. In 1978, Noyce was selected as the chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Noyce was also known as the “The Mayor of Silicon Valley’. He changed the work culture there. He gave his employees equal opportunities to expand their skills.

He was honored with many awards for his extraordinary contribution to the semiconductor industry. In 1987, he received the prestigious National Medal of Technology. In 1983, he was inducted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Noyce got married to Elizabeth Bottomley in 1953. But, the couple separated after twenty years of marriage. He later married Ann Schmeltz Bowers.

Noyce died on June 3, 1990, after he suffer ed a severe heart attack. After his death, the Noyce Foundation was formed by his family. The foundation helped in children’s education, especially in mathematics and science. The science building in his university, Grinnell College, was named after him as a tribute.