John Daniel Runkle
Encyclopedia
John Daniel Runkle was a U.S. educator and mathematician
. He served as acting president of MIT from 1868–70 and president between 1870 and 1878.
, New York State
. He worked on his father's farm until he was of age, and then studied and taught until he entered the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University
, where he graduated in 1851. His ability as a mathematician led in 1849 to his appointment as assistant in the preparation of the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, in which he continued to engage until 1884. He was professor
of mathematics in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1865 until his retirement in 1902. Manual training was introduced into the institute curriculum
largely at his instance. He founded the Mathematical Monthly in 1859 and continued its publication until 1861, and he had charge of the astronomical department of the Illustrated Pilgrim's Almanac.
In the town of Brookline, Massachusetts
, Runkle was a chairman of the School Committee and an early advocate of mathematics and technical education. He received an LL.D
from Wesleyan University
, in Middletown, Connecticut
, an elementary school located at 50 Druce Street in Brookline, was established in his name in 1897.
–19 March 1888 in New York City
) graduated from Harvard Law School
in 1855, and began practice in New York City. He was subsequently made deputy collector and given charge of the law division of the New York Custom House. This rendered him familiar with the legal questions involved in tariff and internal revenue litigation, and resulted in his devoting himself largely to that class of business. For about twenty-five years, he acted as counsel for the New York Tribune
association. Cornelius's wife, Lucia Isabella Gilbert Runkle (born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts
on August 20, 1844), was an editorial writer and contributor to the Tribune.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. He served as acting president of MIT from 1868–70 and president between 1870 and 1878.
Biography
Professor Runkle was born at RootRoot, New York
Root is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 1,715 at the 2010 census.The Town of Root is in the south-central part of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam.The Erie Canal passes the north part of Root....
, New York State
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
. He worked on his father's farm until he was of age, and then studied and taught until he entered the Lawrence Scientific School of 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...
, where he graduated in 1851. His ability as a mathematician led in 1849 to his appointment as assistant in the preparation of the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, in which he continued to engage until 1884. He was professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of mathematics in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1865 until his retirement in 1902. Manual training was introduced into the institute curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
largely at his instance. He founded the Mathematical Monthly in 1859 and continued its publication until 1861, and he had charge of the astronomical department of the Illustrated Pilgrim's Almanac.
In the town of Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, Runkle was a chairman of the School Committee and an early advocate of mathematics and technical education. He received an LL.D
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
from 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...
, in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
Works
- New Tables for Determining the Values of Coefficients in the Perturbative Function of Planetary Motion (Washington, 1856)
- The Manual Element in Education (1882), reprinted from the Reports of the Massachusetts Board of EducationMassachusetts Board of EducationThe Massachusetts Board of Education is the state education agency responsible for interpreting and implementing laws relevant to public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Public education in the Commonwealth is organized according to the regulations adopted by the BOE, which are good...
- Report on Industrial Education (1883)
- Elements of Plane and Solid Analytic Geometry (Boston, 1888)
Memorials
John D. Runkle SchoolJohn D. Runkle School
The John D. Runkle School is a primary school located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The school currently teaches around 600 students in a three-story red brick school building, which includes a computer lab and is adjacent to a playground of about . Usually, there are two or three classes at each...
, an elementary school located at 50 Druce Street in Brookline, was established in his name in 1897.
Family
His brother, Cornelius A. Runkle (9 December 1832 in Montgomery County, New YorkMontgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
–19 March 1888 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1855, and began practice in New York City. He was subsequently made deputy collector and given charge of the law division of the New York Custom House. This rendered him familiar with the legal questions involved in tariff and internal revenue litigation, and resulted in his devoting himself largely to that class of business. For about twenty-five years, he acted as counsel for the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
association. Cornelius's wife, Lucia Isabella Gilbert Runkle (born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts
North Brookfield, Massachusetts
North Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,680 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place North Brookfield, please see the article North Brookfield , Massachusetts.- History :North Brookfield...
on August 20, 1844), was an editorial writer and contributor to the Tribune.