Edwin Smith (astronomer) explained

Edwin Smith
Birth Date:13 April 1851
Birth Place:New York City
Death Place:Rockville, Maryland
Nationality:American
Education:City College of New York
Occupation:Astronomer
Employer:United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
Spouse:Lucy Scott Smith
Children:6

Edwin Smith (April 13, 1851 - December 1, 1912) was an American astronomer, and a founding member of the Cosmos Club and National Geographic Society.[1]

Early life

Edwin Smith was born in New York City on Sunday, April 13, 1851, and was raised during the Gilded Age. He was the fourth son of six children born to Edwin, a city surveyor,[2] and Adelia Olivia Smith (née McIntyre). His paternal grandfather George B. Smith, brother of Theophilus W. Smith, was the long time agent for John Jacob Astor.[3] George B., his grandfather, and his father Edwin were witnesses for the publication of John Jacob Astor's will on December 30, 1836.[4]

He attended the College of the City of New York.

Career

Transit of Venus

On April 8, 1874,[5] it was announced that Edwin was chosen as "chief of party" to lead an expedition to Chatham Island, New Zealand, to study the Transit of Venus.[6] [7] [8]

On January 10, 1875, Edwin and his party returned to Otago aboard the steam ship USS Swatara[9] Letters by Edwin, dated January 15, were received in Washington, D.C.,[10] and were reprinted in newspapers.[11]

In April 1882, Edwin, attended a meeting of the National Academy of Sciences.[12]

In July 1882, he was in New Zealand.[13]

Alaskan expedition

On March 31, 1905, Edwin left Washington, D.C., bound for Seattle, Washington,[14] on route to Alaska.[15] He arrived in Skagway, Alaska on June 24, after passing though Juneau.[16]

Edwin returned home in April 1906.[17]

On July 30, 1906, Edwin arrived in Spokane on his way to Alaska.[18] The goal of the trip was to identify the exact boundary between the United States and Canada.[19]

Personal life

Edwin and his wife Lucy had six children, Edwin (born in 1886), Lucy (born in 1888). They moved to Rockville, Maryland in 1890,[20] and had Theron (born in 1890), twins Duncan and Ralph (born in 1892), and Harold (born in 1894).

In 1896, Edwin left to visit New York for a month.[21]

In August 1906, Edwin attended a "baby party," where everyone present wore "genuine baby pattern garments."[22]

Edwin was acquainted with James Veirs, and attended a dinner he hosted at Montgomery Country Club.[23] Edwin would also play euchre at the country club.[24]

He was a co-founder of the Cosmos Club and served on its "House committee".[25]

Edwin died December 1, 1912.[26] [27]

Bibliography

Legacy

The 1964 film Lilith, starring Warren Beatty utilized the home Edwin built in Rockville, Maryland.[28] His daughter Lucy, portrayed the grandmother of Beatty's character Vincent.[29]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: Crossette, George . 1966 . Founders of the Cosmos Club of Washington . Washington, DC . The Cosmos Club.
  2. Book: Smith I, Edwin . Map of land in the 16th Ward of the City of New York belonging to the heirs of John Murray . February 15, 1873 . Hoboken, N.J. . Spielmann & Brush .
  3. News: The Wealth of the Astors . June 9, 1859 . The Yonkers Statesman . 5.
  4. News: The Will of Mr. Astor . April 14, 1848 . 2 . The Brooklyn Evening Star .
  5. News: April 11, 1874 . Special Dispatch to the Commercial: Astronomical Preparations . 2 . The Pittsburgh Commercial .
  6. News: May 22, 1874 . 1 . The New York Times . The Transit of Venus: List of Persons Designated For The Observation, With The Stations .
  7. News: The Transit of Venus: Importance of To-Nights Event . December 8, 1874 . . 3 . 7247 . 24 . . November 16, 2022 . .
  8. News: The Press . . November 3, 1874 . 3 . The American Astronomical Expedition . 22 . 2872 .
  9. News: . January 11, 1875 . Shipping - Arrivals . 2 .
  10. News: The Transit of Venus: Successful Observations by the Mexican Scientists . February 25, 1875 . 7 . The New York Daily Herald .
  11. News: Venus In Transit: The Work On Chatham Island . March 24, 1875 . 5 . The New York Daily Herald .
  12. News: Academy of Sciences: Its Eighteenth Spring Meeting In Washington City . . April 19, 1882 . . November 14, 2022 . .
  13. News: The Transit of Venus . September 3, 1882 . 4 . The Washington Post . .
  14. News: Geodetic Work . April 13, 1905 . 1 . The Alaska Prospector .
  15. News: April 12, 1905 . Douglas Island News . The Northland: Information for Everybody . 7 . 21 .
  16. News: Personal Mention . June 24, 1905 . 4 . The Daily Alaskan .
  17. News: Society: Social and Personal . April 15, 1906 . The Washington Post . . . 10900 . November 15, 2022 . E5.
  18. News: Look For The Boundary . July 30, 1906 . 3 . The Spokane Chronicle.
  19. News: Fix Boundary By A Star: Exact Line Between Alaska and British America Found . September 15, 1906 . 7 . The Spokane Chronicle.
  20. News: June 28, 1949 . 14 . Mrs. Lucy Smith, 91, Dies at Rockville . The Evening Star .
  21. News: News of the Suburbs: Rockville, Gaithersburg, Etc. . August 9, 1896 . The Washington Post . . . 11 . 6363 . November 15, 2022.
  22. News: Society: Social and Personal - Rockville . August 26, 1906 . The Washington Post . . . 11033 . November 15, 2022 . E5.
  23. News: Rockville Society . The Washington Post . . November 15, 2022 . October 11, 1908 . . E7 . 11812.
  24. News: Rockville Society . The Washington Post . . November 15, 2022 . October 11, 1908 . . E6 . 11812.
  25. News: Election of Officers: Annual Meetings of the Corcoran Art Gallery Trustees, Cosmos Club and Other Organizations . January 13, 1885 . The Washington Post . . . November 16, 2022 . 4 . 2467.
  26. News: Death of Edwin Smith: One of Cosmos Club's Founders and Member of Coast Survey . December 2, 1912 . The Washington Post . November 15, 2022 . . 6 . . 13325.
  27. News: Edwin Smith, Astronomer, Dead . December 3, 1912 . The Baltimore Sun . 9 . . January 11, 2023.
  28. News: Old Homes in Rockville On Tour . April 8, 1967 . C1 . The Washington Times Herald . .
  29. News: Lucy N. Smith of Rockville Dies at 92; Made Acting Debut in 1963 Film, 'Lilith' . Richard . Pearson . The Washington Post . November 20, 1980 . C4 . .

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