 Glenn Theodore Seaborg was born in Ishpeming , Michigan , on April 19 , 1912 , the son of Herman Theodore ( Ted ) and Selma Olivia Erickson Seaborg . He had one sister , Jeanette , who was two years younger . His family spoke Swedish at home . When Glenn Seaborg was a boy , the family moved to Los Angeles County , California , settling in a subdivision called Home Gardens , later annexed to the City of South Gate , California . About this time he changed the spelling of his first name from ' Glen ' to " Glenn " . 
