John Logie Baird (1888-1946)

Television engineer

John Logie Baird was born in Helensburgh but most of his ground-breaking work was carried out in the town of Hastings and includes these firsts: a formal display of television (1925); video recordings (1926); colour television (1928); and an outside broadcast (1932). The BBC used his system into the 1930s. He married Margaret Albu, a concert pianist, in New York in 1931 and died at Bexhill in Sussex in 1946.

Birth in 1888

John Logie Baird was born on 13 August 1888, the son of John Baird, a Church of Scotland minister and Jessie Inglis. The entry in the statutory register of births for Row or Rhu gives the place of birth at The Lodge, West Argyle Street, Helensburgh. His middle name is spelt Loggie.

Birth entry for John Logie Baird in the statutory register for Row or Rhu (43 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1888/503/133

1891 to 1911 Censuses

John Logie Baird was enumerated at the same address with his family in the 1891, 1901 and 1911 Censuses of Row or Rhu.

• In 1891 he was two years old and recorded as J L Baird (National Records of Scotland, 1891/503/9, page 2).
• By 1901 he was aged 12 and recorded as John L Baird, scholar (National Records of Scotland, 1901/503/11 page 17).

In 1911 John L Baird, 22, was an apprentice draughtsman, motor car works. The household schedule shows that his father was retired, his sister was a teacher and his mother was born in Partick.

1911 Census record for John Logie Baird (10 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1911/503/11, page 8