George Comstock
Encyclopedia
George Cary Comstock was an American
astronomer
and educator.
He was born in Madison, Wisconsin
, the eldest child of Charles Henry Comstock and Mercy Bronson. In 1877 he was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan
, after studying mathematics and astronomy. For a couple of years he worked for the U.S. Lake Survey and then a Mississippi River
improvement project, before joining Washburn Observatory
as the assistant director in 1879. As career insurance, during his free moments he studied law and was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1883 after graduating from Wisconsin law school. However, he would never practice the legal profession.
He was appointed professor at Ohio State University
in 1887, where he taught mathematics and astronomy, and he took over directorship of the Washburn Observatory. In 1894 he was married to Esther Cecile Everett, and the couple had a daughter, Mary Cecelia Cary. He helped organize the American Astronomical Society
in 1897, serving first as secretary and later as vice president. he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 1899. In 1904 he was appointed first chair of the University of Wisconsin graduate school, later becoming Dean. He held this position until 1920, then retired in 1922 as Professor Emeritus of Astronomy. In 1897 he became president of the American Astronomical Society.
During his career he wrote several textbooks and published articles in scientific journals. The crater Comstock
on the far side of the Moon
is named after him. His brother Louis became Chairman of the Board at New York Title Insurance Company.
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...
and educator.
He was born in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, the eldest child of Charles Henry Comstock and Mercy Bronson. In 1877 he was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, after studying mathematics and astronomy. For a couple of years he worked for the U.S. Lake Survey and then a Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
improvement project, before joining Washburn Observatory
Washburn Observatory
The Washburn Observatory is located at 1401 Observatory Drive on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Completed in 1881, it was a major research facility for about 50 years. Now it is used primarily by the public during open houses and by students in introductory astronomy...
as the assistant director in 1879. As career insurance, during his free moments he studied law and was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1883 after graduating from Wisconsin law school. However, he would never practice the legal profession.
He was appointed professor at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1887, where he taught mathematics and astronomy, and he took over directorship of the Washburn Observatory. In 1894 he was married to Esther Cecile Everett, and the couple had a daughter, Mary Cecelia Cary. He helped organize 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...
in 1897, serving first as secretary and later as vice president. he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1899. In 1904 he was appointed first chair of the University of Wisconsin graduate school, later becoming Dean. He held this position until 1920, then retired in 1922 as Professor Emeritus of Astronomy. In 1897 he became president of the American Astronomical Society.
During his career he wrote several textbooks and published articles in scientific journals. The crater Comstock
Comstock (crater)
Comstock is a lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the northeast of the walled plain Fersman, and north of the crater Weyl....
on the far side of the Moon
Far side of the Moon
The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that is permanently turned away, and is not visible from the surface of the Earth. The far hemisphere was first photographed by the Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959, and was first directly observed by human eyes when the Apollo 8 mission orbited the Moon...
is named after him. His brother Louis became Chairman of the Board at New York Title Insurance Company.