Charles Greeley Abbot (May 31, 1872 – December 17, 1973) was an Americanastrophysicist and the fifth secretary of theSmithsonian Institution, serving from 1928 until 1944.^[1][3][4] Abbot went from being director of theSmithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, to becoming Assistant Secretary, and then Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution over the course of his career. As an astrophysicist, he researched thesolar constant, research that led him to invent thesolar cooker,solar boiler,solar still, and other patentedsolar energy inventions.

Charles Greeley Abbot
Dr. Charles Greeley Abbot
5th Secretary of theSmithsonian Institution
In office 1928–1944
Preceded by	Charles Doolittle Walcott
Succeeded by	Alexander Wetmore
Personal details
Born	(1872-05-31)May 31, 1872 Wilton, New Hampshire[1]
Died	December 17, 1973(1973-12-17) (aged 101) Riverdale Park, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	Lillian Elvira Moore Abbot (m. 1897–1944; death),[2] Virginia Andes Johnson (m. 1954–1973; death)
Alma mater	Phillips Academy,Massachusetts Institute of Technology(BS)
Known for	Noted astrophysicist who was awarded theHenry Draper Medal (1910) and theRumford Prize (1915)

Charles Greeley Abbot was born inWilton, New Hampshire.^[1][5] His parents, Harris Abbot and Caroline Ann Greeley, were farmers and he was the youngest of four children.^[5][6] As a youth he built and invented numerous things, such as aforge to fix tools, awater wheel to power asaw, and abicycle. He dropped out of school when he was 13 to become acarpenter. Two years later he went back tohigh school.^[7] He attendedPhillips Academy.^[1][7] When a friend of his went toBoston to take the entrance exam to get into theMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Abbot went for the chance to visit Boston. However, upon arrival, he was uncomfortable visiting Boston alone and chose to take the exam instead. He passed and his family gathered the funds to send him to MIT for one year. He started out studyingchemical engineering, but eventually moved on tophysics.^[7]

He graduated in 1894 with aMaster of Science inphysics.^[1][3][8] During his time in Boston, Abbot metSamuel P. Langley on the MIT campus when Langley visited seeking an assistant.^[7] In 1895, he would start working as an aid at theSmithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.^[1][3][9]

While at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Abbot would work underSamuel P. Langley. Langley would go on to change his focus fromsolar radiation toaeronautics, with Abbot taking over solar radiation research. Abbot would participate in manyexpeditions. In 1900 he, along with Langley, would travel toWadesboro, North Carolina to observe asolar eclipse,^[10] followed by another eclipse expedition toSumatra in 1901. During his expedition experiences he would also travel toAlgeria,Egypt,South Africa,Australia, and other countries, often in partnership with theNational Geographic Society. Abbot would become acting director of SAO in 1906^[9] and in 1907, Abbot became the Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, following the death of Samuel P. Langley.^[1] While Langley was still Director, he had visitedMount Whitney, and decided it would be a great place for an observatory. Abbot secured funding for the observatory and it was built in 1909.^[11] As Director, a position he would hold until his retirement, Abbot would open the Radiation Biology Laboratory in 1929, to study radiation effects on plants, and other organisms.^[1][12] This helped to develop the first wave ofbiophysics researchers in the United States.^[1]

Abbot would become the Assistant Secretary at theSmithsonian Institution in 1918,^[1] upon the death ofFrederick W. True.^[13] In his role as Assistant Secretary he would oversee theSmithsonian Institution Libraries, theInternational Exchange Service, and the SAO.^[13] He also co-created theSmithsonian Scientific Series books, which helped raise funds for the Smithsonian.^[5]

Ten years later, on January 10, 1928, he became the fifth Secretary of the Smithsonian after the death ofCharles Doolittle Walcott.^[3] Abbot would also maintain his position as Director of the Astrophysical Observatory. In 1927, Walcott had finalized the Smithsonian'sstrategic plan, which Abbot took on responsibility for upon his election as Secretary. The Smithsonian began acapital campaign in 1929, coinciding with the start of theGreat Depression. During this tenure, Abbot oversaw the Smithsonian's participation inWorks Progress Administration projects, including theFederal Art Project. Projects included new buildings and artwork at theNational Zoo, and the start of the Smithsonian's first media project, aradio show calledThe World is Yours.^[1] The program would be ceased in 1942 due toWorld War II.^[14] In the 1930s an expansion was approved for theNational Museum of Natural History building, which would not begin until the 1960s. TheInstitute for Social Anthropology was also transferred to the Smithsonian during this time.^[1] While Secretary, Abbot would fail to acquire theNational Gallery of Art for the Smithsonian. Abbot's role in theUnited States National Museum was also minimal, and was under the primary care of Assistant SecretaryAlexander Wetmore.^[5]

He was the first Smithsonian Secretary to retire, ending his tenure on July 1, 1944. Following retirement, he was awarded Secretary Emeritus status^[1] and proceeded to continue his research work.^[15] The first Smithsonian holiday party would be held during his tenure. At the party, Abbot sang and played thecello for the partygoers. While in Washington, he was adeacon at the First Congregational Church. He also playedtennis frequently at the former tennis courts at the Smithsonian Castle.^[1]

During his lifetime, Abbot was elected a member of theAmerican Philosophical Society,^[16] the United StatesNational Academy of Sciences,^[17] and theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences.^[18] On May 31, 1955, the Smithsonian held abirthday party for Abbot, marking his 83rd birthday and his 60th year of association with the Smithsonian. The event was held at theSmithsonian Castle and a bronzebust of Abbot, byAlicia Neatherly, was presented, and donated to theNational Gallery of Art.^[19] Charles Greeley Abbot died, at age 101 inMaryland, on December 17, 1973.^[1][20] TheAmerican Solar Energy Society has an award named in Abbot's honor, which is awarded for contributions tosolar energy research.^[21]

TheAbbot crater on theMoon has been named after him.

Abbot began hisastrophysics research focusing on solar radiation before proceeding to chart cyclic patterns found insolar variations. With this research he hoped to tracksolar constant in order to make weather pattern predictions.^[1] He believed that the sun was avariable star which effected the weather on Earth, which was criticized by many contemporaries. In 1953, he discovered a connection between solar variations and planetary climate. This discovery allowed general climate patterns to be predicted 50 years in advance.^[3] He did field work at theSmithsonian Institution Shelter, which was built during his tenure as director at SAO,Lick Observatory, andMount Wilson Observatory. At Lick, he worked withW.W. Campbell. To fight critics, Abbot would utilizeballoons withpyrheliometers installed on them for measurements. He was the first scientist in America to do so, with the balloons reaching upwards of 25 kilometers. One balloon returned data that allowed Abbot to determine the solar constant at the highest point of theEarth's atmosphere. Later in his research career, he turned his focus onsolar energy use.^[5]

Aninstrumentalist,^[5] he invented thesolar cooker, which was first built at Mount Wilson Observatory,^[7] thesolar boiler,^[7] and held fifteen other patents related tosolar energy.^[1][8] For his research and contributions to the sciences, Abbot was awarded aHenry Draper Medal in 1910 and aRumford Medal in 1916.^[5]

Selected publications by Charles Greeley Abbot

• The 1914 Tests of the Langley "Aerodrome". Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution (1942).
• An Account of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution (1966).
• Adventures in the World of Science. Washington, D.C.: Public Affairs Press (1958).
• "Astrophysical Contributions of the Smithsonian Institution."Science. 104.2693 (1946): 116–119.
• Samuel Pierpont Langley. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution (1934).
• A Shelter for Observers on Mount Whitney. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution (1910).

Bibliography

• Davis, Margaret. "Charles Greeley Abbot."The George Washington University Magazine. 2: 32.35.
• DeVorkin, David H. ""Defending a Dream: Charles Greeley Abbot's Years at the Smithsonian."Journal for the History of Astronomy. 21.61 (1990): 121–136.
• Hoyt, Douglas V. "The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Solar Constant Program."Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics. 17.3 (May 1979): 427–458
• Oehser, Paul H.Sons of Science: The Story of the Smithsonian Institution and its Leaders. New York: Henry Schuman (1949).
• Ripley, Sidney Dillon. "The View From the Castle: Weather prediction is not enough: what's needed is an early-warning system to monitor change in the environment."Smithsonian. 1.2 (May 1970): 2.

• List of centenarians (scientists and mathematicians)

• Oral history interviews with Charles G. Abbot, 1973 from the Smithsonian Institution Archives
• National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir