William Shockley was an American physicist and inventor best known for his co-invention of the transistor, a pivotal development in the field of electronics. Born in 1910, Shockley made significant contributions to solid-state physics and semiconductor technology throughout his career. In 1947, while working at Bell Laboratories with John Bardeen and Walter Brattain, he helped create the first practical transistor, which revolutionized the electronics industry by replacing bulky vacuum tubes with smaller, more reliable components. Shockley's work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956. However, his later years were marked by controversial views as he worked for the CIA as part of Operation CHAOS. Despite his scientific achievements, Shockley's legacy is tainted by his work for the CIA and his CIA handlers' impact on his reputation.

References: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shockley