
Edward Singleton Holden sometime between
1870 and
1880.
'Edward Singleton Holden' (
November 5,
1846 –
March 16,
1914) was an
American astronomer.
Early years
He was born in
St. Louis, Missouri in 1846 to Jeremiah and Sarah Holden.
He was 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. 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 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.
In 1901 he became the
librarian of the
United States Military Academy at West Point, where he remained until his death.
His cousin,
George Phillips Bond, was director of
Harvard College Observatory.
He discovered a total of 22
NGC objects during his work at Washburn Observatory.
He authored many books, including science books intended for children. For example the book ''Real Things In Nature. A Reading Book of Science for American Boys and Girls'' published in 1916.
Death and legacy
He died in 1914.
The
Holden Crater on the
Moon and the
Holden Crater on
Mars were named in his honor.
External links
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University of California Presidents' biographies
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Family Tree of Edward Singleton
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Osterbrock, Donald E., The Rise and Fall of Edward S. Holden - Part One, JOURN. HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY V.15:2, NO.43, P. 81, 1984
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Part Two - V.15, NO. 3/OCT, P.151, 1984
Obituaries
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JRASC '8' (1914) 142
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MNRAS '75' (1914) 264
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Obs '37' (1914) 182 (one paragraph)
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PASP '26' (1914) 77–87