Charles Francis Richter

Geologist

Birthday April 26, 1900

Birth Sign Taurus

Birthplace Ohio

DEATH DATE Sep 30, 1985 (85)

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About

Seismologist who created the famous Richter Scale, which describes the magnitude of seismic events. He served as a Professor at the California Institute of Technology from 1958 to 1970 and wrote the influential book Elementary Siesmology.

Before Fame

He moved with his mother and grandfather to California in 1909 and later earned his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the California Institute of Technology.

Trivia

He developed building codes for structures in earthquake-heavy areas, which helped lessen the damage caused by events like the San Fernando earthquake of 1971.

Family Life

He married creative writing teacher Lillian Brand in 1928.

Associated With

He and Hugo Benioff are both famous American seismologists.

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