George R. Harrison

George Russell Harrison (July 14, 1898 – July 27, 1979) was an American physicist.

Harrison became Professor of Experimental Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1930, and was appointed the school's Dean of Science in 1942; he also headed MIT's Spectroscopy Laboratory. During World War II, he was chief of the Optics Division of the National Defense Research Committee, and later head of the Office of Field Service of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. He served as president of the Optical Society of America from 1945-46 and was awarded the Frederic Ives Medal in 1949. He was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1946 by President Harry Truman. He remained Dean of Science at MIT until his retirement in 1964.

Famous quotes containing the word harrison:

    I am advised that there is an unexpended balance of about $45,000 of the fund appropriated for the relief of the sufferers by flood upon the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and I recommend that authority be given to use this fund to meet the most urgent necessities of the poorer people in Oklahoma.
    —Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)