Charles Gordon Curtis

Charles Gordon Curtis (April 20, 1860 in Boston – March 1953 in Central Islip, Suffolk County, New York) was an American engineer, inventor, and patent attorney.

[1] Curtis graduated in 1881 from Columbia University with a degree in civil engineering, followed by two years at New York Law School.

Eight years later, he partnered with friends Charles Crocker and Schuyler S. Wheeler to form 'The Curtis, Crocker, Wheeler Company', with the intention of making and marketing electric appliances, such as motors and fans.

It was, however, much smaller and simpler in design, thus making it suitable for simple applications and mobile use (e.g.on steamships).

In 1910, Curtis was awarded the Rumford Premium Prize of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his improvements to the steam turbine.