Biography

Born on  February 27, 1891

Jewish descent

Born in Belarus in the old Russian Empire and emigrated with his family to the United States in 1900

Came to New York City from Russia in 1900 at the age of 9

One of the giants of 20th Century mass media as the head of Radio Corp. of America (RCA) and the National Broadcasting System

He helped support his family by selling newspapers and with other small jobs

At 15 he bought a telegraph key, learned Morse code and, after being hired as an office boy for the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. of America, became a junior operator in 1908

Didn't know much English at the time

Marconi Wireless was taken over by RCA, continued to move up, taking over the presidency in 1930

By 1947 he was CEO of RCA, the founder of NBC, and well-known as a brilliant and ruthless businessman