John Givan Davis Mack (September 5, 1867 – February 24, 1924) was a professor of engineering at the University of Wisconsin. He was also curator of the museum of the Wisconsin Historical Society. He was for many years State Chief Engineer.

John Givan Davis Mack
Born(1867-09-05)September 5, 1867
Terre Haute, Indiana
DiedFebruary 24, 1924(1924-02-24) (aged 56)
Madison, Wisconsin
EducationCornell University
Occupation(s)Engineer, professor, curator
EmployerUniversity of Wisconsin

Biography edit

John Givan Davis Mack was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on September 5, 1867.[1][2] He graduated from Cornell University in 1888.[3] In 1893 he started work at the University of Wisconsin as an instructor.[4]

In 1898 he registered the patent of the Mack Improved Mannheim Simplex Slide Rule, which he then assigned to Eugene Dietzgen who put the slide rule into production.[5]

He died from a heart attack in Madison on February 24, 1924.[1][2] Upon his death, a portrait of Professor Mack was given to the Wisconsin Historical Society Library to mark over thirty years involvement with the university. It was painted by his friend Morton Grenhagen.[4]

Publications edit

  • Efficiency tests of steam engine governors, and the variation in speed, during the single revolution, (1888) with Charles Billings Dix, Cornell University

References edit

  1. ^ a b "John G. Mack Dead: Chief State Engineer". Stevens Point Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. February 25, 1924. p. 6. Retrieved March 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries". American Machinist. 60 (10). McGraw-Hill: 380b. 1924. Retrieved March 11, 2020 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Commencement! Another Class Finishes its Work at Cornell.— Farewell Eighty-eight". The Cornell Daily Sun (21 July 1888): 1. 1888. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  4. ^ a b On the Presentation of the Mack Portrait to the State Historical Society The Wisconsin Magazine of History Vol. 8, No. 1 (September 1924), pp. 74-77 Wisconsin Historical Society
  5. ^ "Mack Improved Mannheim Simplex Slide Rule by Dietzgen". Smithsonian The National Museum of American History. Smithsonian The National Museum of American History. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

External links edit