<P> Lee de Forest ( August 26 , 1873 -- June 30 , 1961 ) was an American inventor , self - described `` Father of Radio '' , and a pioneer in the development of sound - on - film recording used for motion pictures . He had over 180 patents , but also a tumultuous career -- he boasted that he made , then lost , four fortunes . He was also involved in several major patent lawsuits , spent a substantial part of his income on legal bills , and was even tried ( and acquitted ) for mail fraud . His most famous invention , in 1906 , was the three - element `` Audion '' ( triode ) vacuum tube , the first practical amplification device . Although De Forest had only a limited understanding of how it worked , it was the foundation of the field of electronics , making possible radio broadcasting , long distance telephone lines , and talking motion pictures , among countless other applications . </P>
<P> Lee de Forest ( August 26 , 1873 -- June 30 , 1961 ) was an American inventor , self - described `` Father of Radio '' , and a pioneer in the development of sound - on - film recording used for motion pictures . He had over 180 patents , but also a tumultuous career -- he boasted that he made , then lost , four fortunes . He was also involved in several major patent lawsuits , spent a substantial part of his income on legal bills , and was even tried ( and acquitted ) for mail fraud . His most famous invention , in 1906 , was the three - element `` Audion '' ( triode ) vacuum tube , the first practical amplification device . Although De Forest had only a limited understanding of how it worked , it was the foundation of the field of electronics , making possible radio broadcasting , long distance telephone lines , and talking motion pictures , among countless other applications . </P>
who is known as the father of radio broadcasting
who is known as the father of radio broadcasting
Lee de Forest
Lee de Forest