Edwin H. Land

AKA:
Dr. Land
Birth Name:
Edwin Herbert Land
Birth Date:
May 7, 1909
Birth Place:
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Death Date:
March 1, 1991
Place of Death:
Prospect Hill, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Age:
81
Cause of Death:
Undisclosed
Cemetery Name:
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Claim to Fame:
Science
Edwin H. Land was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation and the inventor of instant photography. “Dr. Land,’’ as most people referred to him, left Harvard College before graduation to start inventing in a Cambridge garage. In 40 years, Land built up a company that did about $1.4 billion of business all over the world in 1979 with over 20,000 employees. He stuck to his guns, never diversified into other businesses, never sold out to another company, and never borrowed money on a long-term basis. Land was awarded more than 500 patents, and other Polaroid researchers hundreds more. The Polaroid company was a juggernaut of innovation. In modern terms, Polaroid was the Apple of its time with a brilliant leader in Edwin Land, a scientist who guided the company as the CEO for several decades. But the company suffered a long decline starting in the ’80s leading to bankruptcy in the 2000s.

Fun Fact

When Edwin died on March 1, 1991 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, upon his specific instructions his trusted personal assistant destroyed all his personal papers and his notes. Oddly enough shortly after his death his historic Cambridge mansion burned to the ground.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Mount Auburn Cemetery

580 Mount Auburn Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138

USA

North America

Map:

Map of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts
Map of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts

Grave Location:

Aronia Path, Lot 10123, Space 1

Grave Location Description

The the intersection of Pond Road, Bradlee Road, Willow Pond Path and Aronia Path take a short walk up Aronia Path just past the Butternut Path and look to your right and you will see the final resting place of the brilliant Dr. Land and his wife about 50 feet from the path.

Grave Location GPS

42.36758888, -71.14714891

Photos:

[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]

Read More About Edwin H. Land:

Videos Featuring Edwin H. Land:

See More:

John von Neumann

popular name: John von Neumann

date_of_death: February 8, 1957

age: 53

cause_of_death: Bone cancer (disputed)

claim_to_fame: Science

best_know_for: John von Neumann was a Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist, computer scientist, engineer and polymath. Von Neumann was regarded as perhaps the mathematician with the widest coverage of the subject in his time and was said to have been "the last representative of the great mathematicians who were equally at home in pure and applied mathematics". Von Neumann's academic career was filled with awards and honors. He was a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Academiz Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Peru; Acamedia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy; National Academy of Sciences; Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences and Letters; Information Processing Hall of Fame; and held numerous honorary degrees. Described as the scientific genius who pioneered the modern computer, game theory, nuclear deterrence, and more, John von Neumann illuminated the fields of pure and applied mathematics, computer science, physics, and economics. In the end, it would be supremely difficult to effectively refute the claim that John von Neumann is likely the most intelligent person who has ever lived. By the time of his death in 1957 at the modest age of 53, the Hungarian polymath had not only revolutionized several subfields of mathematics and physics but also made foundational contributions to pure economics and statistics and taken key parts in the invention of the atomic bomb, nuclear energy and digital computing.

Sir Douglas Mawson

popular name: Sir Douglas Mawson

date_of_death: October 14, 1958

age: 76

cause_of_death: Cerebral haemorrhage

claim_to_fame: Science

best_know_for: Douglas Mawson is a world renowned Australian geologist, explorer, and scientist known for his pioneering work in Antarctica. Mawson began his studies at the University of Sydney where majored in geology and developed a passion for exploration. His first expedition began in 1907 when he joined Ernest Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition as a scientist. Although the expedition didn’t achieve all its goals, it laid the foundation for his future Antarctic ventures. In 1911 Mawson led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE), a scientific and exploration mission. This became one of his most notable achievements. Mawson and his team conducted significant geological surveys, made important meteorological observations, and explored previously uncharted areas of Antarctica. In 1912 during the AAE, Mawson embarked on a perilous journey to explore further inland, accompanied by two companions, Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz. Both men perished—Ninnis fell into a crevasse, and Mertz died from starvation and exposure. Mawson continued alone, suffering from exhaustion and frostbite but ultimately survived, managing to return to base, where he was hailed as a hero. After returning to Australia, Mawson continued his work in geology and advocated for further exploration in Antarctica. He was instrumental in the establishment of Australian research stations in Antarctica, was a key figure in the founding of the Australian Antarctic Division and played a role in ensuring Australia’s claim to parts of Antarctica. For his contributions, including being knighted in 1914, he also made significant contributions to the development of scientific research in polar regions and his name is associated with several geographic locations in Antarctica, and he remains a celebrated figure in Australian exploration history. Today Sir Douglas Mawson is considered one of the greatest men of his era both in Australia and by scientist around the world.

Sir Isaac Newton

popular name: Sir Isaac Newton

date_of_death: March 28, 1727

age: 84

cause_of_death: Experienced severe pain in his abdomen and blacked out, never regained consciousness, and died the next day

claim_to_fame: Science

best_know_for: Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and theologian, is considered one of the great figures in the history of math and science. His ideas about motion and gravity are fundamental to the science of physics and other fields. He discovered calculus, proposed new theory of light and color, advanced early modern chemistry, and invented the reflecting telescope. His highly influential books include "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy) on classical mechanics, "Opticks" on theories of light.

Back to Top