Nathaniel C. Wyeth | |
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Nathaniel C. Wyeth
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Born |
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, United States |
October 24, 1911
Died | July 4, 1990 | (aged 78)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
Occupation | inventor, chemical engineer |
Spouse(s) | Caroline Pyle (until death) Jean Grady |
Children |
with Pyle: --Newell Wyeth (predeceased) --Howard Wyeth --N. Convers Wyeth --Andrew Wyeth --John Wyeth --David Wyeth --Melinda Wyeth (predeceased) |
Parent(s) | N. C. Wyeth |
Nathaniel C. Wyeth (October 24, 1911 – July 4, 1990) was an American mechanical engineer and inventor. He is best known for creating polyethylene terephthalate that could withstand the pressure of carbonated liquids. Made of recyclable PET plastic, lighter than glass and virtually unbreakable, Wyeth's invention is used widely today for both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.
Born in Asgard near Chadds Ford, he displayed an engineering talent throughout his youth. Wyeth held a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He married Caroline Pyle in 1937. Biographer David Michaelis found less evidence than some local residents who were inclined to think Caroline and Wyeth's father, N. C. Wyeth, carried on a relationship. Caroline died in 1973 and later Wyeth married Jean Grady in 1984.
Wyeth and Caroline had five sons, Howard, N. Convers III, Andrew, John, and David, and one daughter, Melinda, who died very young. A sixth son (their first), Newell, died in 1945 with N.C. Wyeth (Wyeth's father), when their car stalled on a railroad crossing near their home and they were struck by a milk train.
Wyeth is also known as the brother of painters Andrew Wyeth, Carolyn Wyeth, and Henriette Wyeth Hurd, the father of musician Howard Wyeth, and as the son of artist and illustrator N. C. Wyeth.
Wyeth often called himself "the other Wyeth" because N.C. and Andrew Wyeth were so well known.
Nathaniel Wyeth joined DuPont in 1936 as a field engineer. By 1963 he was the company's first engineering fellow and when he retired in 1976, was DuPont's first senior engineering fellow, the company's highest technical position.