George Comstock was born in Madison, Wisconsin on February 12, 1855, the eldest child of Charles Henry Comstock and Mercy Bronson.[1] In 1877 he was awarded a Ph.B. 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.[2] However, he would never practice the legal profession.[3]
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.[2] On June 12, 1894, he was married to Esther Cecile Everett, and the couple had a daughter, Mary Cecelia Comstock Carey.[2] 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 1925 he became president of the American Astronomical Society.[2]
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.[4]
^Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. II. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
^Stebbins, Joel (1938). "Biographical Memoir of George Cary Comstock". Biographical Memoirs(PDF). Vol. XX. National Academy of Sciences. p. 164. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
^Stebbins, Joel (1938). "Biographical Memoir of George Cary Comstock". Biographical Memoirs(PDF). Vol. XX. National Academy of Sciences. p. 161. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
^"Dr. George Comstock, Astronomer, Succumbs". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press. May 12, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Dr. Comstock Rites Sunday". Wisconsin State Journal. May 12, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
External linksedit
Portrait of George Cary Comstock from the Lick Observatory Records Digital Archive, UC Santa Cruz Library's Digital Collections at archive.today (archived April 28, 2016)
May 03, 2024
george, comstock, astronomer, george, cary, comstock, february, 1855, 1934, american, astronomer, educator, george, comstockborngeorge, cary, comstock, 1855, february, 1855madison, wisconsindiedmay, 1934, 1934, aged, madison, wisconsinburial, placeforest, hill. George Cary Comstock February 12 1855 May 11 1934 was an American astronomer and educator George ComstockBornGeorge Cary Comstock 1855 02 12 February 12 1855Madison WisconsinDiedMay 11 1934 1934 05 11 aged 79 Madison WisconsinBurial placeForest Hill CemeteryEducationUniversity of MichiganOccupation s Astronomer educatorSpouseEsther Cecile Everett m 1894 wbr SignatureBiography editGeorge Comstock was born in Madison Wisconsin on February 12 1855 the eldest child of Charles Henry Comstock and Mercy Bronson 1 In 1877 he was awarded a Ph B 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 2 However he would never practice the legal profession 3 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 2 On June 12 1894 he was married to Esther Cecile Everett and the couple had a daughter Mary Cecelia Comstock Carey 2 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 1925 he became president of the American Astronomical Society 2 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 4 George Comstock died in Madison on May 11 1934 and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery 5 6 References edit Johnson Rossiter Brown John Howard eds 1904 The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans Vol II Boston The Biographical Society Retrieved March 2 2022 via Internet Archive a b c d George Comstock Ohio State University Retrieved March 3 2022 Stebbins Joel 1938 Biographical Memoir of George Cary Comstock Biographical Memoirs PDF Vol XX National Academy of Sciences p 164 Retrieved March 3 2022 Stebbins Joel 1938 Biographical Memoir of George Cary Comstock Biographical Memoirs PDF Vol XX National Academy of Sciences p 161 Retrieved March 3 2022 Dr George Comstock Astronomer Succumbs Eau Claire Leader Telegram Madison Wisconsin Associated Press May 12 1934 p 3 Retrieved March 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dr Comstock Rites Sunday Wisconsin State Journal May 12 1934 p 3 Retrieved March 3 2022 via Newspapers com External links editPortrait of George Cary Comstock from the Lick Observatory Records Digital Archive UC Santa Cruz Library s Digital Collections at archive today archived April 28 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Comstock astronomer amp oldid 1075080038, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
