Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/394

 CHARLES SUMNER TAINTER AINTER, CHARLES SUMNER, inventor of the graphophone, and associate inventor of the radiophone, an instrument for transmitting sounds to a distance through the agency of light, was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, April 25, 1854, the son of George and Abigail (Sanger) Tainter. His father was an inventor and manufacturer, characterized by a progressive, energetic and upright spirit. His mother was a very strong influence in developing her son's moral and spiritual life. His earliest known ancestor in America, settling in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1638, was Joseph Tayntor. Major Samuel Barnard, Eaires Tainter, William Sanger and Daniel Goodnow, his great grandfathers, all served in the Revolutionary war.

In youth his health was not robust, but at an early age he showed great fondness for reading and study, especially upon mechanical and scientific subjects. When about sixteen years old he began a practical course in electrical, philosophical and astronomical instrument making. His education was received at the public schools of Watertown, Massachusetts. In 1871 he began the work of electrical instrument making in the establishment of Charles Williams, Jr., of Boston, Massachusetts. In 1873 he became connected with the establishment of Alvan Clark and Sons, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the celebrated telescope makers; and with them he worked in making astronomical and optical apparatus. In 1874, he was a member of the United States government expedition sent to the Southern hemisphere to observe the transit of Venus, December 8, of that year. From 1879 to 1886 he was associated with Professor Alexander Graham Bell in experimental and scientific work. From 1886 to 1898 he was with the American Graphophone Company. In 1881 he was awarded a gold medal at the electrical exposition, Paris, France, for work in connection with the photophone and radiophone. In 1889 he was given the decoration of Ofncier de l'lnstruction Publique by the French government for the invention of the graphophone. In 1900 he was awarded the John Scott medal