Alexander M. Nicolson

This article is about the inventor of the crystal oscillator. For the Canadian politician, see Alexander Malcolm Nicholson.

Alexander McLean Nicolson (1880/1881 – February 3, 1950) was an American scientist and engineer, most notable for inventing the first crystal oscillator, using a piece of Rochelle salt in 1917 while working at Western Electric. He then filed a patent the following year. His priority was later disputed by Walter Guyton Cady, who invented the first quartz crystal oscillator in 1921.

His surname is sometimes spelled Nicholson in later sources.

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