Clarence Chant
Encyclopedia
Clarence Augustus Chant was a Canadian
astronomer
and physicist
.
He was born in Hagermans Corners, Ontario
to Christopher Chant and Elizabeth Croft. In 1882 he attended Markham High School, where he demonstrated a mathematical ability. After graduation he attended St. Catherines Collegiate Institute and York County Model School in Toronto
. He left to work as an instructor in 1884, and taught at Maxwell, Osprey Township for the following three years.
By 1887 he began studying mathematics
and physics
at the University College of the University of Toronto
. Upon graduation he became a civil servant in Ottawa
, working as a temporary clerk in the office of the Auditor General. Due to the limited prospects his stay at this job was brief, however, and in 1891 he was offered a fellowship at University of Toronto, where he gained an appointment as a lecturer of physics the following year.
While working at the university he became interested in astronomy
, and in 1892 he joined what would become the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
. He served as president of the organization from 1904 until 1907, and also performed editing duties for the society's journal until 1956. He also contributed articles to the journal and the annual Observer's Handbook.
In 1894 he married Jean Laidlaw, and the couple would have two daughters and a son. He earned his Master's degree in 1900, and was granted a leave of absence to study for a Doctorate at Harvard University
. He returned to Toronto with his Ph.D. in 1901 as a professor. In 1905 he introduced optical astronomy courses at the University of Toronto
, and was the sole astronomer at the university until 1924. He lobbied the city of Toronto
for an observatory, but the project was shelved with the advent of World War I
.
During his career he joined five expeditions to observe solar eclipses, including the 1922 expedition that tested Einstein's theory that light could be deflected by a massive body. He performed early investigations into X-ray
photography. In 1928 he published the book Our Wonderful Universe.
Finally in 1935, after many years of labor and the financial backing of the family of mining executive David Alexander Dunlap, his dreams of a world-class observatory for Canada were achieved with the opening of the David Dunlap Observatory
. He retired from the university when the observatory opened, and moved into the Observatory House, Richmond Hill
. He passed away at 91 years of age during the November 1956 lunar eclipse
while still residing at the Observatory House.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
He was born in Hagermans Corners, Ontario
Hagermans Corners, Ontario
Hagerman's Corners is an unincorporated community in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Located at 14th Avenue and Kennedy Road, the former farm lands have disappeared and given way to homes and commercial parks...
to Christopher Chant and Elizabeth Croft. In 1882 he attended Markham High School, where he demonstrated a mathematical ability. After graduation he attended St. Catherines Collegiate Institute and York County Model School in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He left to work as an instructor in 1884, and taught at Maxwell, Osprey Township for the following three years.
By 1887 he began studying mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the University College of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Upon graduation he became a civil servant in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, working as a temporary clerk in the office of the Auditor General. Due to the limited prospects his stay at this job was brief, however, and in 1891 he was offered a fellowship at University of Toronto, where he gained an appointment as a lecturer of physics the following year.
While working at the university he became interested in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, and in 1892 he joined what would become the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and related sciences. At present, there are 29 local branches of the Society, called centres, located in towns and cities across the country from St. John's,...
. He served as president of the organization from 1904 until 1907, and also performed editing duties for the society's journal until 1956. He also contributed articles to the journal and the annual Observer's Handbook.
In 1894 he married Jean Laidlaw, and the couple would have two daughters and a son. He earned his Master's degree in 1900, and was granted a leave of absence to study for a Doctorate at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He returned to Toronto with his Ph.D. in 1901 as a professor. In 1905 he introduced optical astronomy courses at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and was the sole astronomer at the university until 1924. He lobbied the city of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
for an observatory, but the project was shelved with the advent of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
During his career he joined five expeditions to observe solar eclipses, including the 1922 expedition that tested Einstein's theory that light could be deflected by a massive body. He performed early investigations into X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
photography. In 1928 he published the book Our Wonderful Universe.
Finally in 1935, after many years of labor and the financial backing of the family of mining executive David Alexander Dunlap, his dreams of a world-class observatory for Canada were achieved with the opening of the David Dunlap Observatory
David Dunlap Observatory
The David Dunlap Observatory is a large astronomical observatory site once owned by the University of Toronto, located just north of the city in Richmond Hill, Ontario within a estate. Its primary instrument is a 74-inch reflector telescope, at one time the second largest telescope in the world,...
. He retired from the university when the observatory opened, and moved into the Observatory House, Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
. He passed away at 91 years of age during the November 1956 lunar eclipse
November 1956 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse took place on November 18, 1956....
while still residing at the Observatory House.
Awards and honors
- He is considered by some to be the "father of Canadian astronomy".
- Asteroid 3315 Chant3315 Chant3315 Chant is a main-belt asteroid discovered on February 8, 1984 by Bowell, E. at Flagstaff .- External links :*...
is named after him. - The crater ChantChant (crater)Chant is a lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, behind the southwest limb as seen from the Earth. It lies within the southwestern part of the blanket of ejecta surrounding the Mare Orientale, beyond the Montes Cordillera mountain ring. To the west-northwest is the large...
on the MoonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him.