Vinal, George Wood Merwin

Other Events:

• Occupation: electrochemist

Notes:

Birth:
For more information on George W. M. Vinal, his ancestors and descendants, refer to the Holcombe Family Genealogy at http://www.holcombegenealogy.com [4 November 2001].

Education:
After an education in the public schools of Washington, D.C., George earned an A.B. with honors in 1906 and an A.M. in 1909, both from Wesleyan University, Middleton, Connecticut. He did graduate work at Johns Hopkins University and received an honorary doctorate in 1936.

Occupation:

     The following biographical sketch appeared in the 1925 Who's Who in Engineering.

Vinal, George Wood (Merwin), Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce; res. 3810 Jenifer St., N.W., Washington, D. C.
     Electrochemist; b. Ellington, Conn., Dec. 17, 1882; s. W. Irving and Emily Merwin (Wood) Vinal; ed. pub. schls. of Wash.; Wesleyan Univ., A.B., (with honors) 1906, A.M. 1909; grad. student, Johns Hopkins Univ., 1906-07, Delta Kappa Epsilon; m. Wash, D. C., Nov. 19, 1913, Grace G. Fiegenbaum; ch: Francis Ellsworth. Lab. asst Bur. of Standards, 1907; aide, coast and geodetic survey, 1907; asst in physics, Wesleyan Univ., 1908; lab. asst. Bur. of Standards, 1908-10; asst. physicist, 1910-17; asso. physicist, 1917-20; physicist, 1920; chief section of electrochemistry, Bur. of Standards since Feb. 1918. Author: "Storage Batteries" pub. by John Wiley & Sons, also various technical papers on elec. standards, dry cells, storage batteries and other electrochemical subjects pub. by govt. Mem. [member] Wash. Acad. of Sci. [Washington Academy of Science], A.I.E.E. [American Institute of Electrical Engineers], Am. Electorchem. Soc. [American Electrochemical Society], Wash. Philosophical Soc. [Washington Philosophical Society], F. of Am. Physical Soc. [Fellow of American Physical Society]. P. E. [Protestant Episcopal].

     According to an obituary published in the Boston Globe, Dr. Vinal retired from the National Bureau of Standards in 1951. Thereafter, he worked as a consultant for "General Motors Research Department, the Electro Storage Battery Co., Texas Instruments, General Electric, Ray-O-Vac, International, RCA, National Nickel, Eagle Pitcher, Ethyl Inc., Dewey and Almy, Co. and Arthur D. Little Co." "He was a former vice president of the Electro Chemical Society, the American Chemical Society, the Washington Academy of Science..."


Died:
According to an obituary published in the Boston Globe on 8 April 1969, "Dr. George W. Vinal, 86, of Westerly, R.I., internationally known physicist for the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, died yesterday at the Waltham Hospital." Funeral services were to be held in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Weston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, 9 April, at 3:00 p.m..

George married Fiegenbaum, Grace Gertrude 19 Nov 1913, Washington, D.C., USA. Grace (daughter of Fiegenbaum, Adolph Heinrich and McKee, Margaret) was born 17 Jun 1883, Washington, D.C., USA; died Feb 1973, Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:

     They were married at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The following item appeared in The Washington Post on 18 November 1913.

     Miss Grace G. Fiegenbaum, who is to become the bride of Mr. George W. Vinal tomorrow, was the guest of honor at many entertainments last week. Among these was a tea given Saturday afternoon by Miss Rawlings, at her apartment at the Marlborough. The Misses Lind held a card party and "shower" for Miss Fiegenbaum Saturday night. Sunday evening, Capt. and Mrs. William Richard Dear, entertained the bridal party at supper.
     Mr. Gordon Murphy, of New York, is to be Mr. Vinal's best man, and the ushers are Mr. Edson S. Basten, Capt. W. R. Dear, U. S. A., Mr. E. L. Wallace, and Mr. G. M. Marechal. The last two named ushers and the best man are members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, of which the groom is also a member.
     Miss Fiegenbaum's only attendants are to be her two bridesmaids, Miss Louise Hart, and Miss Ida Lind. The wedding will take place at St. Mark's Church tomorrow evening.

1. Vinal, Dr. Francis Ellsworth was born 2 Sep 1915, Washington, D.C., USA; died 10 Oct 1973, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA.

Washington married Wood, Emily Merwin 2 Jul 1878. Emily was born 11 Feb 1841, Washington, D.C., USA; died 18 May 1916. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
Emily Merwin Wood was the daughter of Rev. George Ingersoll Wood and Susan Townsend Merwin.

Notes:

Married:
Washington Irving Vinal was the son of Dr. Levi Greer Vinal and Mary Ann Page.