Who Is John Archibald Wheeler? Age, Biography and Wiki
John Archibald Wheeler was born on July 9, 1911, and passed away on April 13, 2008. In 2025, we honor his legacy as a pioneering theoretical physicist known for his work in nuclear physics and general relativity. He is particularly remembered for coining the term "black hole" and his contributions to the understanding of gravitational waves. His innovative ideas shaped the landscape of modern physics and continue to influence scientists today.
| Occupation | Presidents |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 9, 1911 |
| Age | 96 Years |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Jersey |
| Date of death | 13 April, 2008 |
| Died Place | Hightstown, New Jersey, U.S. |
Popularity
John Archibald Wheeler's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements of John Archibald Wheeler's height and weight during his lifetime are less emphasized in scholarly discourse, it is noted that he stood at approximately 6 feet tall. His physical presence was often overshadowed by his profound intellect and remarkable contributions to physics.
In August 1945 Wheeler and his family returned to Princeton, where he resumed his academic career.
Working with Feynman, he explored the possibility of physics with particles, but not fields, and carried out theoretical studies of the muon with Jayme Tiomno, resulting in a series of papers on the topic, including a 1949 paper in which Tiomno and Wheeler introduced the "Tiomno Triangle", which related different forms of radioactive decay.
He also suggested the use of muons as a nuclear probe. This paper, written and privately circulated in 1949 but not published until 1953, resulted in a series of measurements of the Chang radiation emitted by muons.
Muons are a component of cosmic rays, and Wheeler became the founder and first director of Princeton's Cosmic Rays Laboratory, which received a grant of $375,000 from the Office of Naval Research in 1948. Wheeler received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1946, which allowed him to spend the 1949–50 academic year in Paris.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John Archibald Wheeler was married to his wife, Janette (also known as Jane) for many years until her passing. They had three children together, emphasizing a family-oriented life that balanced his demanding career in academia and research. Throughout his life, Wheeler maintained a reputation for being a caring father and husband, dedicated to his family while also pursuing his groundbreaking work in physics.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, John Archibald Wheeler’s estimated net worth was around $10 million, accumulated through his academic career, publications, and various consulting roles. His intellectual property and influence in the scientific community positioned him as a respected figure with significant earnings throughout his life. Since his passing in 2008, his legacy continues to inspire researchers, ensuring that his contributions are valued far beyond his lifetime.
For 72 years, Wheeler was married to Janette Hegner, a teacher and social worker. They became engaged on their third date, but agreed to defer marriage until he returned from Europe. They were married on June 10, 1935, five days after his return. Employment was difficult to find during the Great Depression.
Arthur Ruark offered Wheeler a position as an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, at an annual salary of $2,300, which was less than the $2,400 Janette was offered to teach at the Rye Country Day School. They had three children.
Career, Business and Investments
John Archibald Wheeler had a distinguished career as a professor and researcher. His work spanned multiple academic institutions, including Princeton University and the University of Texas at Austin. He played a crucial role in the development of the atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project and made significant strides in theoretical physics. Beyond academics, Wheeler engaged in consulting for various government and private sectors, advising on complex theoretical aspects that influenced projects across multiple scientific disciplines.
In addition to his teaching and consulting work, Wheeler published numerous influential papers and books, contributing to the education of future scientists and establishing a sustainable academic legacy.
For most of his career, Wheeler was a professor of physics at Princeton University, which he joined in 1938, remaining until 1976. At Princeton he supervised 46 PhD students, more than any other physics professor.
Social Network
In his later years, John Archibald Wheeler maintained an academic presence through various scientific networks and conferences, often sharing his insights with younger generations of physicists. Although social media was not prevalent during his lifetime, his scientific contributions are celebrated across numerous platforms where discussions on physics and theoretical science occur, cementing his place in both history and modern scientific discourse.
John Archibald Wheeler (July 9, 1911 –April 13, 2008) was an American theoretical physicist. He was largely responsible for reviving interest in general relativity in the United States after World War II. Wheeler also worked with Niels Bohr to explain the basic principles of nuclear fission.
Together with Gregory Breit, Wheeler developed the concept of the Breit–Wheeler process.
He is best known for popularizing the term "black hole" for objects with gravitational collapse already predicted during the early 20th century, for inventing the terms "quantum foam", "neutron moderator", "wormhole" and "it from bit", and for hypothesizing the "one-electron universe".
Stephen Hawking called Wheeler the "hero of the black hole story".
Education
Wheeler received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1933 and later completed his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland in 1939. His educational journey paved the way for a lifelong commitment to intellectual curiosity and scientific exploration, evident in his expansive body of work and the mentorship he provided to countless students in the field of physics.
At 21, Wheeler earned his doctorate at Johns Hopkins University under the supervision of Karl Herzfeld. He studied under Breit and Bohr on a National Research Council fellowship. In 1939 he collaborated with Bohr on a series of papers using the liquid drop model to explain the mechanism of fission.
During World War II, he worked with the Manhattan Project's Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago, where he helped design nuclear reactors, and then at the Hanford Site in Richland, Washington, where he helped DuPont build them.
He returned to Princeton after the war but returned to government service to help design and build the hydrogen bomb in the early 1950s. He and Edward Teller were the main civilian proponents of thermonuclear weapons.
