Van de Graaff, Robert Jemison, 1901-67, American physicist, b. Tuscaloosa, Ala., grad. Univ. of Alabama (B.S., 1922), Ph.D. Oxford, 1928. He was research associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1931-34) and associate professor from 1934. He developed an electrostatic particle accelerator—now called a Van de Graaff generator—used in nuclear research. Introduced in 1931, it uses the charge that accumulates from a rapidly moving belt inside an insulated hollow metal globe to produce high-voltage electrical discharges that look like lightning.

(born Dec. 20, 1901, Tuscaloosa, Ala., U.S.—died Jan. 16, 1967, Boston, Mass.) U.S. physicist. He worked as an engineer, then as a physics researcher at the University of Oxford (1925–29). From 1931 he continued his research at MIT, as a professor (1934–60). He developed a high-voltage electrostatic generator (later called the Van de Graaff generator) that served as a type of particle accelerator. In 1946 he cofounded the High Voltage Engineering Corp. to manufacture his accelerator. Widely used in atomic research, the device was also adapted to produce high-energy X rays for medical and industrial uses.

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Robert Jemison, Jr. (September 17, 1802 – October 16, 1871) was a Confederate senator from the state of Alabama, United States, from 1863–1865.

He also served in the Alabama General Assembly from 1837 until 1863.

Memorials

Some believe a park in Birmingham, Alabama is named for the senator. And others believe that the name Robert Jemison Jr. on other streets and buildings refer to the Confederate senator. In fact, the park in the references is in Mountain Brook, AL., an affluent suburb developed by a different Robert Jemison Jr., probably the most important single developer in Birmingham's history for many years of his more than 7 decades in the Real Estate business. He died in 1971 and his descendents are still active in real estate development.

The Irony is that there are many landmarks in the Tuscaloosa area connected to the Senator Jemison (and there were others). He was active in development in that area, but his death occurred long before the establishment of Mountain Brook and the year of his death is the same as the first year of Birmingham's existence. He was not involved in the city's development.

References

• Google Map of Park
• Political Graveyard
• Confederate Congress bio
• Jemison Park named for Realtor, Birmingham News, 1/16/1950]