Comfort Avery Adams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 1, 1868 |
| Died | February 21, 1958 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Case School of Applied Science |
| Awards | IEEE Edison Medal (1956) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Electrical engineering |
Comfort Avery Adams (November 1, 1868[1] – February 21, 1958) was an American electrical engineer who as a student helped Albert A. Michelson with the Michelson–Morley experiment (1887), which was later viewed as confirming the special relativity theory of Albert Einstein (1905). He was a recipient of the IEEE Edison Medal and AIEE Lamme Medal.
Adams was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Comfort Avery Adams Sr. and Katherine Emily Peticolas on November 1, 1868.[2]
"Doc Adams", as he was commonly addressed by his colleagues and friends, received his Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from his alma mater, Case School of Applied Science, in 1925 after having been on the faculty at Harvard College and dean of their engineering school for almost 35 years. He later received his second honorary doctorate from Lehigh University in 1939. By that time he had retired from Harvard. In terms of an all-around American engineer in the early 20th century, Comfort A. Adams comes the closest to being America's answer to Britain's I. K. Brunel.[citation needed]
Adams was president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers[3] and the American Welding Society. He organized and chaired the Welding Research Council.
Adams married Elizabeth Chassis Parsons in 1894, and they adopted two children. Adams died at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 21, 1958.[4]
