Geoffrey Gaut
Dr Geoffrey Charles Gaut CBE (12 October 1909 – 18 August 1992) was an important pioneering scientist in Britain's early semiconductor industry.
Dr Geoffrey Gaut CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 October 1909 Penwortham, Lancashire |
| Died | 18 August 1992 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Royal Grammar School Worcester |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford |
| Known for | Important pioneering scientist in Britain's early semiconductor industry |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Semiconductors |
| Institutions | Plessey |
Early life
He was born in Penwortham, Lancashire.
He was educated at the Royal Grammar School Worcester. He went to University College, Oxford, gaining a degree in Chemistry. He remained at Oxford, and researched colloidal materials. During six years at Oxford he was a member of the Oxford University Air Squadron, where he learnt to master aerobatics.
Career
Plessey
He joined Plessey in 1934. He was the second-ever graduate employee at the company, earning £6 a week. He became Chief Chemist. By the start of World War II, he was in charge of all the company's research and development. He volunteered to join the RAF, passed the necessary tests, and was commissioned as an officer. When Allen Clark, of Plessey, was told of this he coerced the RAF to stop Gaut's commission. Gaut would later work with John Clark. He would later qualify as a helicopter pilot aged 58.
He set up a new research laboratory at Caswell House in Northamptonshire. This became the Caswell Research Laboratories. He became Director of the site, followed later by Derek Roberts. In 1948 the site invented radar absorbent material.[1] In the late 1960s the site was developing Gunn diodes.
On 8 January 1963 he joined Plessey's board of directors as Director of Research, becoming Director of Technology in 1969. He retired in 1985.
British research
For many years he was a board member of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) from April 1966. He was known as GCG.
At Plessey he has started Britain's initial research into silicon solid circuits in 1957.
Personal life
He married in 1937, and had a son and daughter. He was appointed CBE in the 1973 New Years Honours. He was an organist and pianist.