Frederick Slocum
Encyclopedia
Frederick Slocum was an American
astronomer
.
He was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts
to Frederick and Lydia Ann Jones Slocum. His father was a whaling ship captain, and Frederick spent much of his youth mastering boat handling. He enrolled at Brown University
in 1891, and was awarded his A.B. in 1895 and a Ph.D. in 1898. He joined the staff of Brown University as a mathematics instructor, then became an assistant professor of astronomy in 1900 under the influence of Professor Winslow Upton
. Frederick Slocum took a leave of absence 1908–9 to study at the Royal Astronomical Observatory in Potsdam
, Germany
. He joined Yerkes Observatory
in 1909 as an assistant, and remained there until 1911. He assisted Samuel A. Mitchell in research with parallax
measurement techniques, and these were published in 1913.
In 1914 he became the first professor of astronomy at Wesleyan University
, where he planned and supervised the construction of the Van Vleck Observatory
. He became director of the observatory in 1915, and held this post until 1944. During World War I
, he was absent while training merchant captains in the skill of navigation at the United States Shipping Board. He also spent some time at Brown University as professor in charge of the Department of Naval Science, before returning. He retired from Wesleyan in failing health on November 1, 1944.
He was a member of the American Astronomical Society
and would join the Committee on Stellar Parallaxes. Their work would eventually result in the "Yale Parallax Catalogue". He served as a vice president of the society from 1935–1937. In 1934 he served as Vice-President of Section D in the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
He married Carrie E. Tripp in 1899, and the couple remained together until her death in 1942. He was survived by his brother, Edward M. Slocum.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
.
He was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located on the south coast of Massachusetts where the Acushnet River flows into Buzzards Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean...
to Frederick and Lydia Ann Jones Slocum. His father was a whaling ship captain, and Frederick spent much of his youth mastering boat handling. He enrolled at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1891, and was awarded his A.B. in 1895 and a Ph.D. in 1898. He joined the staff of Brown University as a mathematics instructor, then became an assistant professor of astronomy in 1900 under the influence of Professor Winslow Upton
Winslow Upton
Winslow Upton was a United States astronomer.-Biography:...
. Frederick Slocum took a leave of absence 1908–9 to study at the Royal Astronomical Observatory in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He joined Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics," was founded in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes...
in 1909 as an assistant, and remained there until 1911. He assisted Samuel A. Mitchell in research with parallax
Parallax
Parallax is a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight, and is measured by the angle or semi-angle of inclination between those two lines. The term is derived from the Greek παράλλαξις , meaning "alteration"...
measurement techniques, and these were published in 1913.
In 1914 he became the first professor of astronomy at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, where he planned and supervised the construction of the Van Vleck Observatory
Van Vleck Observatory
Van Vleck Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Wesleyan University. It was built in 1914 and named after the former head of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at the university, Prof. John M. Van Vleck. It is located in Middletown, Connecticut .-Directors:*...
. He became director of the observatory in 1915, and held this post until 1944. During 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...
, he was absent while training merchant captains in the skill of navigation at the United States Shipping Board. He also spent some time at Brown University as professor in charge of the Department of Naval Science, before returning. He retired from Wesleyan in failing health on November 1, 1944.
He was a member of the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
and would join the Committee on Stellar Parallaxes. Their work would eventually result in the "Yale Parallax Catalogue". He served as a vice president of the society from 1935–1937. In 1934 he served as Vice-President of Section D in the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
He married Carrie E. Tripp in 1899, and the couple remained together until her death in 1942. He was survived by his brother, Edward M. Slocum.
Awards and honors
- Awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Brown in 1938.
- Elected fellow of the Royal Astronomical SocietyRoyal Astronomical SocietyThe Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
of LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on November 10, 1911. - Member of the Société Astronomique de FranceSociété Astronomique de FranceThe Société Astronomique de France is a French astronomical society that was founded by the astronomer Camille Flammarion....
and the Astronomische GesellschaftAstronomische GesellschaftThe Astronomische Gesellschaft is an astronomical society established in 1863 in Heidelberg, the second oldest astronomical society after the Royal Astronomical Society....
. - Member of the National Research Council, 1934–37.
- The crater SlocumSlocum (crater)Slocum is a small lunar impact crater in the southeastern part of the Mare Smythii. It lies near the eastern limb of the Moon, and from the Earth this section of the surface is viewed at a very oblique angle. This greatly limits the amount of detail that can be observed. In addition, libration of...
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.