Percy Spencer: Inventor of the microwave oven!

Percy Spencer was born in 1894. He lost his father when he was 1.5 years old.

Spencer was raised in deprivation by his relatives. He dropped out of school when he was in 5th grade to earn money to support himself and his aunt. He worked in a reel factory between the ages of 12 and 16.

Percy Lebaron Spencer (July 19, 1894 – September 8, 1970) was an American physicist and inventor. He became known as the inventor of the microwave oven. Spencer was born in Howland, Maine. Eighteen months later, Spencer's father died, and his mother soon left him in the care of his aunt and uncle. His uncle then died when Spencer was just seven years old. 

Although his education life ended due to circumstances, his desire to learn never ceased. With this request, he developed himself in many different areas. Over time, he managed to become an expert in electricity, then wireless communication and radio technology.

When he realized he needed to learn something about physics and chemistry, he taught himself these sciences by reading textbooks.

At the age of 18 he joined the United States Navy as a radio operator and learned wireless communication technology.

Here he became interested in mathematics, metallurgy, physics, chemistry and trigonometry.

By 1939 Spencer had become one of the world's leading experts in radar tube design. Spencer began working at Raytheon, which manufactures military electronics for the US Department of Defense.

Spencer's problem-solving style has helped Raytheon make some of its biggest technological breakthroughs. There he also began researching radar systems and worked as chief of the power tube division at Raytheon.

America in 1941, World War II. While contemplating entering World War II, Spencer focused his attention on magnetrons, which are complex microwave tubes used in radars.

While working on the magnetron in the lab, Spencer noticed that the chocolate in his pocket was heating up and melting. He wondered why this happened while he was working in front of a microwave-emitting device called a magnetron.

He meticulously studied this situation he lived by chance and tried to cook different foods using microwave rays.

He used corn in his first attempt and became the first person in history to pop corn with a microwave.

In his second attempt, his goal was to cook eggs. But the eggs exploded in the faces of the people who watched the egg experiment.

On October 8, 1945, he applied for a patent for the microwave cooking oven.

Spencer did not patent this invention in his name.

After Spencer's discovery, the Raytheon company launched its first microwave oven, the Radarange, in 1947.

The first microwave ovens were both very large and very expensive.

But restaurants and companies quickly recognized the advantages of their quick-cooking meals.

In the 1950s, relatively affordable and reasonably sized microwave ovens became available for sale.

Spencer became Senior Vice President and Senior Board Member at Raytheon. He received nearly 300 patents during his career.

Spencer was 53 years old when he invented the microwave oven and died at the age of 76, in 1970.

Raytheon, the company Spencer helped found, has grown into one of the largest military technology companies in the world today.