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Edward S. Holden | |
|---|---|
 Edward Singleton Holden sometime between 1870 and 1880 | |
| Born | (1846-11-05)November 5, 1846 |
| Died | March 16, 1914(1914-03-16) (aged 67) |
| Alma mater | Washington University in St. Louis, B.S. degree;West Point, class of 1870 |
| Occupation(s) | Astronomer, university president, professor ofmathematics,librarian |
| Employer(s) | US Naval Observatory,Washburn Observatory at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison,Lick Observatory,University of California,United States Military Academy |
| Organization | Astronomical Society of the Pacific |
| Known for | Fifth president of theUniversity of California; discovered 22NGC objects |
| Parent(s) | Jeremiah and Sarah Holden |
| Relatives | CousinGeorge Phillips Bond, grandson, inventor Edward Singleton Holden |
| Awards | Member,National Academy of Sciences |
| Signature | |
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Edward Singleton Holden (November 5, 1846 – March 16, 1914)[1] was an Americanastronomer and the fifth president of theUniversity of California.
He was born inSt. Louis, Missouri, in 1846 to Edward and Sarah Frances (Singleton) Holden.[2][3] From 1862 to 1866, he attendedWashington University in St. Louis, where he obtained a B.S. degree. He later trained atWest Point in the class of 1870.
In 1873 he became professor ofmathematics at theUS Naval Observatory, where he made a favorable impression onSimon Newcomb. On August 28, 1877, a few days afterAsaph Hall discovered the moons of MarsDeimos andPhobos, he claimed to have found a third satellite of Mars. Further analysis showed large mistakes in his observations.[4]He was director ofWashburn Observatory at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison from 1881 to 1885. He was elected a member of both the AmericanNational Academy of Sciences and theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1885.[5][6] He discovered a total of 22NGC objects during his work at Washburn Observatory.
Holden was president of theUniversity of California from 1885 until 1888,[1] and the first director of theLick 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 theAstronomical Society of the Pacific and its first president (1889–1891). He also became a member of theAmerican Philosophical Society.[7] Holden was awarded five honorary degrees: an M.A. degree from Washington University in 1879,an LL.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1886, an LL.D. fromColumbia University in 1887, a Sc.D. from theUniversity of the Pacific in 1896 and a Litt.D. fromFordham College in 1910.[2]
In 1901, Holden became thelibrarian of theUnited States Military Academy at West Point, where he remained until his death. He was buried at theWest Point Cemetery on March 18, 1914.[8]
He wrote many books on popular science (and on other subjects, such as flags and heraldry), including science books intended for children, for example:
Sir William Herschel: His Life and Works, 1881.Holden was a founding member of theCosmos Club.[9]
Theasteroid872 Holda, the craterHolden on theMoon and the craterHolden onMars are all named in his honor.
His cousinGeorge Phillips Bond was director ofHarvard 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 modernfire extinguishers.
Works by or aboutEdward S. Holden atWikisource
| Academic offices | ||
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| Preceded by | President of theUniversity of California 1885–1888 | Succeeded by |
