Charles Greeley Abbot
Charles Greeley Abbot | |
---|---|
5th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution | |
In office 1928–1944 | |
Preceded by | Charles Doolittle Walcott |
Succeeded by | Alexander Wetmore |
Personal details | |
Born | Wilton, New Hampshire[1] | May 31, 1872
Died | December 17, 1973 Riverdale Park, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 101)
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 the Henry Draper Medal (1910) and the Rumford Prize (1915) |
Charles Greeley Abbot (May 31, 1872 – December 17, 1973) was an American
Early life and education
Charles Greeley Abbot was born in
When a friend of his went to Boston to take the entrance exam to get into the Massachusetts 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 studying chemical engineering, but eventually moved on to physics.[7]He graduated in 1894 with a
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
While at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Abbot would work under
Life and work as Smithsonian Secretary
Abbot would become the Assistant Secretary at the
Ten years later, on January 10, 1928, he became the fifth Secretary of the Smithsonian after the death of
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 the cello for the partygoers. While in Washington, he was a deacon at the First Congregational Church. He also played tennis frequently at the former tennis courts at the Smithsonian Castle.[1]
Later life and legacy
During his lifetime, Abbot was elected a member of the
The Abbot crater on the Moon has been named after him.
Research work
Abbot began his
An
Further reading
- 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.
See also
- List of centenarians (scientists and mathematicians)
References
- ^ Smithsonian Institution Archives. 2011-04-14. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-309-06031-8.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (link - ^ ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
- doi:10.1063/1.3128601. Archived from the originalon 2013-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g Devorkin, David H. "Charles Greeley Abbot". Biographical Memoirs. The National Academies Press. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- . Retrieved August 22, 2022.
Abbot, Charles Greeley (31 May 1872–17 December 1973), astronomer, was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, the son of Harris Abbot and Caroline Ann Greeley, farmers.
- ^ Bibcode:1977QJRAS..18..136M. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ a b Warner, Deborah Jean (1975). "Biographical Memoirs: Charles Greeley Abbot". The American Philosophical Society Year Book 1975. The American Philosophical Society. pp. 111–116. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Abbot Becomes Director of SAO". Institutional History Division. Smithsonian Institution Archives. March 1907. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "North Carolina Eclipse Expedition of 1900". Institutional History Division. Smithsonian Institution Archives. 1900-05-28. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "SAO Mount Whitney Shelter Erected". Institutional History Division. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "Div. of Radiation and Organisms Established". Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1953. Smithsonian Institution Archives. May 1929. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ a b "C. G. Abbot Named Assistant Secretary". Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year. Smithsonian Institution Archives. 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "World Is Yours is Suspended". Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1942. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "Charles G. Abbot Retires as Secretary". Annual Report for the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1945. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- ^ "Charles G. Abbot". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- ^ "Charles Greeley Abbot". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- ^ "Celebration of Abbot's 83rd Birthday". Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1955. Smithsonian Institution. 1955. p. 10. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "Secretary Emeritus Abbot Dies". Torch. Smithsonian Institution Archives. 1 January 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "Charles Greeley Abbot Award". American Solar Energy Society. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
External links
- Oral history interviews with Charles G. Abbot, 1973 from the Smithsonian Institution Archives
- National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir