Morris K. Jessup

Morris Ketchum Jessup (1900-1959), American astronomer and pioneering ufologist, held a Master's degree in astronomy from the University of Michigan (1926). Despite academic training, he worked as an automobile-parts salesman and photographer. Jessup gained prominence with his 1955 book The Case for the UFO, advocating serious study of UFOs as exploratory craft of solid and nebulous character, linking them to ancient monuments and speculating on antigravity propulsion. He authored further works: UFOs and the Bible and The UFO Annual (both 1956), The Expanding Case for the UFO (1957), tying transient lunar phenomena to UFOs. Notably involved in the 'Philadelphia Experiment' via annotated copies of his book received by the Office of Naval Research, suggesting government invisibility tests. His death in 1959 was ruled suicide.