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William Shockley (born February 13, 1910, in London and died August 12, 1989, in Stanford, California) was an American physicist, scientist, and inventor. He held dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom. Shockley studied at the California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the guidance of his doctoral advisor, John C. Slater.
Throughout his career, Shockley made numerous contributions to the field of physics. He is best known for his work on the development of the point-contact transistor, as well as the GJT, diffused-base transistor, heterojunction bipolar transistor, thyristor, BARITT diode, Shockley diode, and many other inventions and innovations.
In 1956, Shockley was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research into semiconductors and his contribution to the invention of the transistor. Later, in 1974, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
In addition to his individual achievements, Shockley was also the founder of Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, further cementing his legacy in the field of semiconductors and electronics.