Jozef Murgaš (1864–1929), a Roman Catholic priest who lived in the United States from 1896, was an amateur pioneer of wireless telegraphy. He is the first person in history known to have broadcast the spoken word over the radio, and thereby earned his place in the annals of science and technology as the inventor of the radio.
In 2006, the Jozef Murgaš Supporters' Club with support from Slovaks in the U.S. (as indicated by an inscription at the base of the plaque) had a commemorative plaque installed on the building of the Main Post Office. Cast in bronze, it is rectangular with a flattened arch at its apex. In the upper left is a church tower referencing Murgaš’s original profession, together with the inscription TAJOV * 1864 (the scientist’s place and date of birth). On the right are telegraph poles, beneath which are listed the place and year of Murgaš's death: _WILKES-BARE, PA, USA † 1929. _Between the inscriptions is a relief portrait of the scientist clothed as a Catholic priest. The lower section is inscribed with text: below the relief is the name JOZEF MURGAŠ, and at the bottom is the tribute
VYNÁLEZCA V RÁDIOTELEGRAFII, VEDEC, KŇAZ, MALIAR, NÁRODOVEC
INVENTOR IN RADIOTELEGRAPHY, SCIENTIST, PRIEST, ARTIST, SLOVAK PATRIOT.
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Research status as of 11. 06. 2024.