William Chauvenet

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William Chauvenet

William Chauvenet (born May 24, 1820 in Milford , Pennsylvania , † December 13, 1870 in St. Paul , Minnesota ) was an American mathematician and astronomer . In his honor, the Mathematical Association of America awards the Chauvenet Prize annually, the highest American award for the explanatory presentation of mathematical knowledge.

Life

William Chauvenet was born in 1820 to Mary Kerr and William Marc Chauvenet. His father initially ran agriculture, but later became a businessman. Since the family was quite wealthy, William Chauvenet was able to attend a private school in Philadelphia . William Chauvenet made an early impression with his math skills, and the private school principal was so impressed with his skills that he suggested William's father send him to Yale University . In 1840 he graduated with distinction there.

Shortly after leaving university, he became an assistant to Alexander D. Bache at Girard College in Philadelphia . He supported Bache in investigations into magnetism and meteorology. A lasting friendship developed from this. At this time, Chauvenet came into contact with astronomy through Sears C. Walker . Walker established the astronomical observatory at the Philadelphia High School at that time.

In 1841 he was appointed professor of mathematics in the Navy . Initially, he was briefly an instructor on the steamship USS Mississippi , but this did not satisfy him. A few months later he moved to the 1842 Philadelphia Naval School in Philadelphia, where he established an eight-month training course for naval officers. In 1850 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences , in 1863 he was a founding member of the National Academy of Sciences . The moon crater Chauvenet is named after him.

In 1842 he married Catherine Hemple. Together they had five children: a daughter and four sons.

Scientific work

From 1842 Chauvenet was instrumental in the development and founding of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis . Previously, most of the training of naval officers took place at sea, now far greater emphasis has been placed on comprehensive academic training. Until 1853 he served as a professor of mathematics at the Naval Academy, then he took over training in astronomy, navigation and surveying . During his time at the Naval Academy, he was offered two professorships at Yale University, first in mathematics, then astronomy and natural philosophy - he turned down both offers.

In 1859, Chauvenet accepted a professorship in mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis, founded in 1853 . In 1862 he was appointed second chancellor of this university. He held this position until he retired in 1869 for health reasons.

In addition to his influence on the training of naval officers and his important contributions to the development of mathematics in the United States, Chauvenet is best known for the textbooks he wrote in the field of mathematics and astronomy. Which includes:

  • A treatise on plane and spherical trigonometry (1850)
  • Spherical astronomy (1863)
  • Theory and use of astronomical instruments: Method of least squares (1863)
  • A treatise of elementary geometry (1870).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e J. J. O'Connor, EFRobertson: William Chauvenet , August 2005
  2. ^ A b J. HC Coffin: Memoir of William Chauvenet. 1820-1870. Presented to the National Academy of Science on April 1, 1873 ( online ; PDF; 784 kB)
  3. ↑ Chauvenet (moon crater) in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature of the IAU (WGPSN) / USGS

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Chauvenet, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American mathematician and astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH May 24, 1820
PLACE OF BIRTH Milford
DATE OF DEATH December 13, 1870
Place of death St. Paul