# Robert A. Millikan

> American physicist (1868–1953)

**Wikidata**: [Q130975](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130975)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Millikan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/robert-a-millikan

## Summary
Robert A. Millikan was an American physicist and university teacher who lived from 1868 to 1953. He is most renowned for conducting the oil drop experiment, which successfully measured the elementary electric charge, and for his leadership roles at major institutions like the California Institute of Technology. His work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics and established him as a pivotal figure in early 20th-century science.

## Biography
- **Born**: March 22, 1868
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: Educated at Oberlin College and Columbia University; also held a doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris.
- **Known for**: Conducting the oil drop experiment to measure the elementary electric charge.
- **Employer(s)**: Columbia University, Oberlin College, University of Chicago, California Institute of Technology.
- **Field(s)**: Physics

## Contributions
Robert A. Millikan's primary scientific contribution was the **oil drop experiment**, conducted in collaboration with H. Fletcher. This experiment was designed to measure the **elementary electric charge**, a fundamental constant in physics. Through this work, Millikan provided precise data on the charge of the electron, which was a critical advancement in the understanding of atomic structure. His leadership at the **California Institute of Technology** (Caltech) helped transform it into a premier research institution, particularly in the fields of physics and astronomy. He also served in academic and administrative roles at **Columbia University**, **Oberlin College**, and the **University of Chicago**, contributing to the development of physics education in the United States.

## FAQs
**What was Robert A. Millikan's most significant scientific achievement?**
Millikan is best known for the oil drop experiment, which he performed with H. Fletcher to accurately determine the elementary electric charge. This measurement was a foundational step in confirming the quantization of electric charge and understanding the nature of the electron.

**Which universities did Robert A. Millikan work for during his career?**
His academic career included positions at Oberlin College, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. He later became a prominent figure at the California Institute of Technology, where he served as a key leader and researcher.

**What major awards and honors did Robert A. Millikan receive?**
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the elementary charge. Additionally, he received the Edison Medal, the Faraday Lectureship Prize, the ASME Medal, the Oersted Medal, the Hughes Medal, the Matteucci Medal, the Franklin Medal, and the Comstock Prize in Physics. He was also elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Paris.

**What organizations was Robert A. Millikan a member of?**
Millikan was affiliated with numerous prestigious scientific bodies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Philosophical Society, the French Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.

## Why They Matter
Robert A. Millikan's work fundamentally altered the landscape of modern physics by providing the first precise measurement of the electron's charge. Before his experiments, the existence of the electron was theorized, but its specific charge remained uncertain; his data allowed for the calculation of other fundamental constants, such as the mass of the electron. This precision was essential for the development of quantum mechanics and atomic theory. Beyond his research, Millikan's influence extended to the institutional level; his leadership at Caltech helped establish it as a global hub for scientific innovation, fostering an environment that produced numerous Nobel laureates and advanced fields ranging from astrophysics to nuclear physics. Without his rigorous experimental approach, the timeline of atomic discovery and the subsequent technological revolution might have been significantly delayed.

## Notable For
- Winning the **Nobel Prize in Physics** for measuring the elementary electric charge.
- Conducting the famous **oil drop experiment** with H. Fletcher.
- Serving as a key leader and researcher at the **California Institute of Technology**.
- Receiving the **Edison Medal** for contributions to electrical science.
- Being awarded the **Faraday Lectureship Prize** by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Earning the **ASME Medal** for engineering achievement.
- Receiving the **Oersted Medal** from the American Association of Physics Teachers.
- Being honored with the **Hughes Medal** by the Royal Society of London.
- Winning the **Matteucci Medal**, an Italian award for physicists.
- Receiving the **Franklin Medal** from the Franklin Institute.
- Being awarded the **Comstock Prize in Physics** by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
- Being elected as a **Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences**.
- Holding an honorary doctorate (**doctor honoris causa**) from the **University of Paris**.
- Being a member of the **National Academy of Sciences**.
- Serving as a member of the **American Physical Society**.
- Being affiliated with the **American Association for the Advancement of Science**.
- Holding membership in the **American Philosophical Society**.
- Being a member of the **French Academy of Sciences**.
- Serving as a member of the **Pontifical Academy of Sciences**.
- Being affiliated with the **Russian Academy of Sciences**.
- Holding membership in the **German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina**.
- Being a member of the **Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities**.
- Serving as a member of the **Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei**.
- Working at **Columbia University**.
- Teaching at **Oberlin College**.
- Working at the **University of Chicago**.
- Being associated with the **Millikan** lunar crater.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Robert Andrews Millikan was born on March 22, 1868. He was a citizen of the United States. His educational journey included studies at **Oberlin College**, a private liberal arts college in Ohio, and **Columbia University**, a private university in New York City. He also received an honorary doctorate (**doctor honoris causa**) from the **University of Paris** in France. These institutions laid the groundwork for his future career in physics and academia.

### Academic Career and Affiliations
Millikan's professional life was defined by his tenure at several prestigious American universities. He began his career at **Oberlin College**, where he taught and conducted early research. He subsequently moved to **Columbia University**, furthering his academic contributions. Later, he joined the **University of Chicago**, a private university in Illinois, where he continued his work in physics. His most significant institutional leadership role was at the **California Institute of Technology** (Caltech), a private research university in Pasadena, California. Founded in 1891, Caltech grew into a world-renowned institution under his influence. Throughout his career, he was affiliated with these four major institutions, shaping the next generation of physicists.

### Scientific Contributions: The Oil Drop Experiment
Millikan's most celebrated scientific achievement was the **oil drop experiment**. Conducted in collaboration with **H. Fletcher**, this experiment was specifically designed to measure the **elementary electric charge**. By observing the motion of charged oil droplets in an electric field, Millikan was able to determine the charge of a single electron with high precision. This work provided crucial empirical evidence for the quantization of electric charge, a concept that was central to the emerging field of quantum physics. The experiment is a landmark in the history of physics, often cited in textbooks and recognized as a definitive proof of the electron's properties.

### Awards and Honors
The scientific community recognized Millikan's contributions through a vast array of prestigious awards. In 1923, he was awarded the **Nobel Prize in Physics**, the highest honor in his field. His achievements were further celebrated with the **Edison Medal**, presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He received the **Faraday Lectureship Prize** from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the **ASME Medal** for engineering achievement. The **Oersted Medal**, conferred by the American Association of Physics Teachers, honored his contributions to physics education. International recognition came in the form of the **Hughes Medal** from the Royal Society of London and the **Matteucci Medal** from Italy. Domestically, he was awarded the **Franklin Medal** by the Franklin Institute and the **Comstock Prize in Physics** by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, he was elected as a **Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences** and received an honorary doctorate from the **University of Paris**.

### Memberships in Learned Societies
Millikan was a highly sought-after member of the world's leading scientific academies. He was a member of the **National Academy of Sciences**, the **American Physical Society**, the **American Association for the Advancement of Science**, and the **American Philosophical Society**. His international standing was reflected in his memberships in the **French Academy of Sciences**, the **Pontifical Academy of Sciences**, the **Russian Academy of Sciences**, the **German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina**, the **Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities**, and the **Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei**. These affiliations underscore his global impact and the respect he commanded within the international scientific community.

### Legacy and Impact
Robert A. Millikan passed away on December 19, 1953. His legacy is preserved not only in his scientific papers but also in the institutions he helped build. The **Millikan** lunar crater stands as a celestial tribute to his work. His life and career are documented in various databases and archives, including identifiers such as P18 (Robert Andrews Millikan 1920s.jpg) and P109 (signature). His work on the elementary charge remains a cornerstone of physics education and research. Through his leadership at Caltech and his rigorous experimental methods, Millikan set a standard for scientific inquiry that continues to influence the field today. His ability to bridge theoretical physics with precise experimental validation helped define the trajectory of 20th-century science.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.presstelegram.com/social-affairs/20140123/millikan-high-in-long-beach-named-after-nobel-prize-winning-physicist)
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Find a Grave
5. [Source](https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/edison-rl.pdf)
6. [The Nobel Prize in Physics 1923. nobelprize.org](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1923/summary/)
7. [Table showing prize amounts. Nobel Foundation. 2019](https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2019/04/prize-amounts-2020.pdf)
8. [Source](https://www.asme.org/about-asme/honors-awards/achievement-awards/asme-medal)
9. [Source](https://www.aapt.org/programs/awards/oersted.cfm)
10. [About the Comstock Prize in Physics](http://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/comstock-prize-in-physics.html)
11. [Source](https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/who-we-are/our-people/our-fellows/all-honorary-fellows/)
12. [Source](https://books.google.fr/books?id=_lLqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1906&lpg=PA1906)
13. [L'Information universitaire. 1939](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k45858312/f1.item.r=honoris.zoom)
14. Mathematics Genealogy Project
15. [Source](https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/1789/)
16. International Standard Name Identifier
17. Virtual International Authority File
18. CiNii Research
19. www.pas.va
20. Q137170397
21. NNDB
22. [Robert A. Millikan – NAS](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/robert-a-millikan-ohiknn/)
23. [Source](https://libserv.aip.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=168116Y30L533.282104&profile=rev-icos&source=~!horizon&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100006~!4044~!11&ri=3&aspect=power&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=Robert+Andrews+Millikan&index=.AW&uindex=&aspect=power&menu=search&ri=3&limitbox_1=LO01+=+icos)
24. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
25. SNAC
26. Encyclopædia Universalis
27. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
28. Czech National Authority Database
29. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
30. GeneaStar
31. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
32. Encyclopédie Larousse
33. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Millikan%20Robert%20Andrews)
34. nobelprize.org
35. CONOR.SI
36. La France savante
37. Quora
38. LIBRIS. 2018
39. Catalogo of the National Library of India