USS Fessenden (DE-142)
She was named in honor of Reginald Aubrey Fessenden, born in Brome County, Quebec, Canada, 6 October 1866. He served as head chemist with Thomas Edison's East Orange, New Jersey, laboratories. In 1890 he began concentrating on electrical engineering, and through the next years made many important inventions and improvements in existing devices. His great contributions in the field of radio (particularly the invention of radio-telephony were of marked benefit not only to the Navy but to all seamen. He died 22 July 1932, at his home on Bermuda.
Samuel C. Fessenden
Born in New Gloucester, Maine, Samuel Fessenden graduated from Bowdoin College in 1834 and from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1837. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the Second Congregational Church of Thomaston, Maine from 1837 to 1856. He then established the "Maine Evangelist" and began to study law. He was admitted to the bar and began practicing in 1858, eventually becoming judge of the Rockland municipal court.