Henry Smith Pritchett
Encyclopedia
Henry Smith Pritchett was an American astronomer and educator.
, and attended Pritchett College
in Glasgow, Missouri
, receiving an A.B.
in 1875. He then took instruction from Asaph Hall
for two years at the US Naval Observatory after which he was made an assistant astronomer. In 1880, he returned to Glasgow to take a position at the Morrison Observatory
, where his father Carr Waller Pritchett, Sr.
was director. He served as an astronomer on the Transit of Venus
Expedition to New Zealand in 1882. When he returned in 1883, he took an appointment as professor of mathematics and astronomy and director of the observatory at Washington University in St. Louis
. In the early 1890s he studied in Germany, where he earned the Ph.D. from the University of Munich in 1894.
He was Superintendent of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1897 to 1900. He served as the president of MIT
from 1900 to 1906. He was president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching from 1906 until he retired in 1930. His principal contribution while with the CFAT was the institution of a fully funded pension program (the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association
, TIAA) in 1918.
He also served as the first president of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education (1907). He had a long involvement with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
, and served as a trustee for Carnegie Institute
of Washington.
He died on August 28, 1939 in Santa Barbara, California
.
Biography
Pritchett was born on April 16, 1857 in Fayette, MissouriFayette, Missouri
Fayette is a city in Howard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,793 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County. It is in the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and attended Pritchett College
Pritchett College
Pritchett College was a small institution that operated in Glasgow, Missouri from 1866 until 1922. It was founded as Pritchett School Institute and became known as Pritchett College after 1897.-History:...
in Glasgow, Missouri
Glasgow, Missouri
Glasgow is a city in Chariton and Howard counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,263 at the 2000 census.The Howard County portion of Glasgow is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, receiving an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1875. He then took instruction from Asaph Hall
Asaph Hall
Asaph Hall III was an American astronomer who is most famous for having discovered the moons of Mars in 1877...
for two years at the US Naval Observatory after which he was made an assistant astronomer. In 1880, he returned to Glasgow to take a position at the Morrison Observatory
Morrison Observatory
Morrison Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Central Methodist University located in Fayette, Missouri . It was named after Bernice Morrison who, in 1874, pledged $100,000 to C. W. Pritchett for the construction of the observatory. Half of that amount would go the...
, where his father Carr Waller Pritchett, Sr.
Carr Waller Pritchett, Sr.
Carr Waller Pritchet, Sr. 1823-1910 was an American educator and astronomer. He was the first President of Pritchett College in Glasgow, Missouri and the first director of the Morrison Observatory, also in Glasgow. C. W...
was director. He served as an astronomer on the Transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
Expedition to New Zealand in 1882. When he returned in 1883, he took an appointment as professor of mathematics and astronomy and director of the observatory at Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. In the early 1890s he studied in Germany, where he earned the Ph.D. from the University of Munich in 1894.
He was Superintendent of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1897 to 1900. He served as the president of MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
from 1900 to 1906. He was president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching from 1906 until he retired in 1930. His principal contribution while with the CFAT was the institution of a fully funded pension program (the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association
TIAA-CREF
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund is a Fortune 100 financial services organization that is the leading retirement provider for people who work in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields...
, TIAA) in 1918.
He also served as the first president of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education (1907). He had a long involvement with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
, and served as a trustee for Carnegie Institute
Carnegie Institution for Science
The Carnegie Institution for Science is an organization in the United States established to support scientific research....
of Washington.
He died on August 28, 1939 in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
.