Nationality American Name Edward Holden | ||
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Born November 5, 1846 ( 1846-11-05 ) St. Louis, Missouri Employer US Naval Observatory, Washburn Observatory at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Lick Observatory, University of California, United States Military Academy Died March 16, 1914, West Point, Highlands, New York, United States Books Sir William Herschel: His Life a, Biographical Memoir of William H, The family of the sun, The Mogul Emperors of Hindus, Real Things in Nature: A | ||
Edward Singleton Holden (November 5, 1846 – March 16, 1914) was an American astronomer and the fifth president of the University of California.
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Early years
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1846 to Jeremiah and Sarah Holden. From 1862–66, he attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he obtained a B.S. degree. He later trained at West Point in the class of 1870.
Career
In 1873 he became professor of mathematics at the US Naval Observatory, where he made a favorable impression on Simon Newcomb. On August 28, 1877, a few days after Asaph Hall discovered the moons of Mars Deimos and Phobos, he claimed to have found a third satellite of Mars. Further analysis showed large mistakes in his observations. He was director of Washburn Observatory at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1881 to 1885. He was elected a member of the American National Academy of Sciences in 1885. He discovered a total of 22 NGC objects during his work at Washburn Observatory.
He was president of the University of California from 1885 until 1888, and the first director of the Lick Observatory from 1888 until the end of 1897. He resigned as a result of internal dissent over his management among his subordinates. While at the Lick Observatory, he was the founder of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and its first president (1889–1891).
In 1901 he became the librarian of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he remained until his death.
Works
He wrote many books on popular science (and on other subjects, such as flags and heraldry), including science books intended for children, for example:
Legacy
The asteroid 872 Holda, the crater Holden on the Moon and the crater Holden on Mars are all named in his honor.
Family
His cousin George Phillips Bond was director of Harvard College Observatory. His grandson, also named Edward Singleton Holden, was a well known inventor with numerous patents to his name. He is credited with designing the rolled stainless steel gauge present in most modern fire extinguishers.