Groves was born in Albany, New York. General Groves headed the Manhattan Project almost from its inception in 1942 until 1947, when atomic energy affairs were turned over to the newly created civilian Atomic Energy Commission. He was in charge of all phases of the project— scientific, technical and process development, construction, production, security and military intelligence of enemy activities, and planning for use of the bomb.
He retired from active duty on February 29, 1948. He died of heart disease on July 13, 1970.
