Mansfield Merriman
Encyclopedia
Mansfield Merriman was an American
civil engineer
, born at Southington
, Conn.
He graduated at Sheffield Scientific School
(Yale
) in 1871, was assistant in the United States Corps of Engineers
in 1872-73, and instructor in civil engineering at Sheffield from 1875 to 1878. He was professor
of civil engineering in Lehigh University
from 1878 to 1907 and thereafter a consulting civil and hydraulic engineer. From 1880 to 1885 he was also assistant on the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
. His researches in hydraulics, bridges, strength of materials, and pure mathematics are important. His chief publications, many of them widely used as textbooks, are:
In addition, he was editor in chief of the American Civil Engineers' Pocket Book (1911).
He is believed to have been the author of the Diaphote Hoax of 1880, a detailed newspaper report of a scientific
demonstration of a device that transmitted images by electricity.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
civil engineer
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, born at Southington
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
, Conn.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
He graduated at Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
(Yale
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
) in 1871, was assistant in the United States Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
in 1872-73, and instructor in civil engineering at Sheffield from 1875 to 1878. 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 civil engineering in Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
from 1878 to 1907 and thereafter a consulting civil and hydraulic engineer. From 1880 to 1885 he was also assistant on the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
U.S. National Geodetic Survey
National Geodetic Survey, formerly called the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey , is a United States federal agency that defines and manages a national coordinate system, providing the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a large number of applications of science...
. His researches in hydraulics, bridges, strength of materials, and pure mathematics are important. His chief publications, many of them widely used as textbooks, are:
- Method of Least Squares (1884; eighth edition, 1901)
- Mechanics of Materials (1885; tenth edition, 1912)
- with JacobyHenry Sylvester JacobyHenry Sylvester Jacoby was an American educator, born at Springtown, Pennsylvania, He was graduated from Lehigh University in 1877 and during the season of 1878 was connected with the topographical corps of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey. During 1879-85, he was chief draftsman in the United...
, A Text-Book on Roofs and Bridges (four volumes, 1888-98; fifth edition, 1912) - Treatise on Hydraulics (1889; ninth edition, 1914)
- Handbook for Surveyors (1895; third edition, 1903)
- Strength of Materials (1897; sixth edition, 1913)
- Precise Sanitary Engineering (1898; third edition, 1906)
- The solution of equations (1906)
- Elements of Hydraulics (1912)
- Recreations in Mathematics (1917), under the pseudonym of H. E. Licks
In addition, he was editor in chief of the American Civil Engineers' Pocket Book (1911).
He is believed to have been the author of the Diaphote Hoax of 1880, a detailed newspaper report of a scientific
demonstration of a device that transmitted images by electricity.
External links
- Merriman, Mansfield at Lehigh University.
- A web page (in French) about Merriman and the Diaphote Hoax, with much biographical information.
- The text of the Diaphote Hoax.