John G. Hutton (1916-1995) was an electrical engineer employed by General Electric for 39 years. In September 1955 he gave one of the first speeches warning about the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to a meeting of the the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, hosted by the Cleveland Engineering Society.
Early life and education
Hutton was born in Sunderland, England, on June 26, 1916. [1]
He failed a competitive exam for secondary education and so went instead to a technical school. Later he attended night school after work to qualify for college entrance. He earned his BS degree from Durham University in 1938. The following year he won the Henry Fellowship tenable at Yale University where he received his master’s degree in engineering in 1940 and his doctorate in 1941. [2]
After working for the Canadian National Research Council he was briefly employed at Cornell University’s electrical engineering department.
[3]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiAyZ65m-yPAxWtYEEAHTORLAcQFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fecommons.cornell.edu%2Fbitstream%2F1813%2F23402%2F1%2FTrustees_1942_43.pdf&usg=AOvVaw25A9u3Vz4g6SIc_WVZM63f&opi=89978449
Career
Seeking employment with General Electric Hutton “bombarded” them with job applications, until Oct. 12, 1942, when he was accepted for a job on a GE test program.
(Anon 1962) In April, 1943, he joined the General Electric Engineering Laboratory, holding he held a variety of assignments in GE, culminating in his appointment in 1956 as manager of the electrical engineering laboratory. He was appointed general manager of General Electric’s Speciality Control Department in Waynesboro Virginia in January 1960.[4]
In 1964 he explained the importance of engineers having a broad understanding of their role.
” It isn’t enough for an engineer charged with the design of a new piece of electronic equipment to be aware of the design costs. He must also know what it will cost to manufacture the equipment as well as how much money is needed for the supporting efforts of the rest of the business. He
must know the total effect his design will have on the business.” [5]
Speech on climate change
On Thursday September 22nd 1955, Hutton gave a speech in Cleveland, Ohio to the Cleveland Engineering Society. In it he stated the build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere “may be having a greenhouse effect on our climate” because mankind was “contaminating the earth’s atmosphere faster than nature can clean it.” [6] [7]
Family life and Death
In 1943 he married Helen Nichols.[8]
They had three children, Ann, David, and John.[9]
He retired from General Electric in 1981, and he and his wife moved to Earlysville.
Publications. He passed away at Martha Jefferson Hospital on Saturday June 17, 1995, after an extended illness [1].
Publications
The following list is taken from https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37314544900
C. M. Foust;J. G. Hutton 1944. Electric-circuit burning-clear and damage phenomena on aircraft structures
Electrical Engineering Volume: 63, Issue: 4 |
P. F. Desch;D. E. Garr;J. G. Hutton 1946. Governor for variable-ratio transmission used in developmental 400-cycle electric system for large aircraft
Electrical Engineering Volume: 65, Issue: 4 |
C. M. Foust;J. G. Hutton 1944. Electric-Circuit Burning-Clear and Damage Phenomena on Aircraft Structures
Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers Year: 1944 | Volume: 63, Issue: 4 |
P. F. Desch;D. E. Garr;J. G. Hutton, 1946. Governor for variable-Ratio Transmission Used in Developmental 400-Cycle Electric System for Large Aircraft
Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers Volume: 65, Issue: 4 |
John G. Hutton, 1947 Determination or Corona Starting Voltages or Nonuniform Fields in Air
Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers Volume: 66, Issue: 1 |
DOI 10.1109/T-AIEE.1947.5059624
References
[1] Anon. 1995. Obituary Dr John Hutton. The News-Virginian (Waynesboro, Virginia) June 19, Page 8
[2] Anon, 1962 A Dedication to Learning Helped Hutton Gain Industrial Philosophy. The News-Virginian (Waynesboro, Virginia), May 11· Page 3
[3] Proceedings of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University, July 1,1942-June 30, 1943
[4] Anon, 1962 A Dedication to Learning Helped Hutton Gain Industrial Philosophy. The News-Virginian (Waynesboro, Virginia), May 11· Page 3
[5] Singer, L. 1964. Training Engineers in Cost-Cutting Techniques. Electronic Industries, May, p. 156-160. – Hutton quote on p.156.
[6] Hudson, M. 2025. “70 years ago today, a General Electric scientist warned about carbon dioxide build-up” – All Our Yesterdays, September 22
[7] Anon, 1955. World climate warming up. Journal of the Franklin Institute Volume 260, Issue 6, December 1955, Page 506
https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-0032(55)90193-9
[8] Anon, 1943. Miss Helen W. Nichols and John G. Hutton of Schenectady Wed. Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) September 20, Page 4
[9] Anon, 1959. Dr John Hutton Named New GE General Manager. The News-Virginian (Waynesboro, Virginia) · December 24· Page 1
[10] Anon. 1995. Obituary Dr John Hutton. The News-Virginian (Waynesboro, Virginia) June 19, Page 8