Willis Luther Moore (January 18, 1856 – December 18, 1927) was an American meteorologist, author, and educator. He was chief of the U.S. Weather Bureau, 1895–1913, and president of the National Geographic Society, 1905–1910.
Moore was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on January 18, 1856, the son of Luthor T. Moore and Lucy E. Babcock. During his youth the family lived on a farm in the Susquehanna Valley in New York. His father served in Grant's army during the American Civil War, where the eight-year-old Moore joined him at City Point, selling newspapers to the Union troops. Moore received his early education in Binghamton, New York public shools.[1][2]
At the age of seventeen, Moore went to work for The Republican, a New York newspaper, as a printer and reporter. After an attempt to seek gold in the Black Hills failed, he worked as a printer for The Hawk Eye in Burlington, Iowa. In 1876 he took the entrance exam for the meteorological training school of the Signal Service.[3] He reached the grade of observer sergeant in 1886. By 1891, he was the Milwaukee, Wisconsin district weather forecaster, then a forecast official for the upper lakes region in Chicago, Illinois in 1893.[4] Secretary of Agriculture J. Sterling Morton named Moore as chief of the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1895, succeeding Mark W. Harrington.[5]
During this period, long range weather forecasting was considered little more than quackery, and Moore worked aggressively to denounce this activity. However, by 1906 he announced that the Weather Bureau was about to begin forecasting the weather a month in advance using scientific methods. The Bureau began experimenting with weekly forecasts in 1908, then made them a standard release in 1910. However, despite some successes, these would remain as inaccurate as the older methods.[3]
Moore was subject to a Congressional investigation of alleged inappropriate spending on the Mount Weather research station in Virginia. His management style was heavily criticized by subordinates. House representative Theron Akin, an ardent foe of Moore, pushed for a House resolution to have Moore fired by the incoming Wilson administration.[3] Moore submitted his resignation on April 5, and was dismissed by President Wilson on April 16, 1913.[6][7] He was succeeded by Charles F. Marvin.[3]
From 1905 to 1910, Moore was President of the National Geographic Society. Among other changes, he originated the practice of financing expeditions by the society.[8] He was awarded an honorary LL.D. from Norwich University in 1896 and a D.Sc. from St. Lawrence University in 1906.[9] Following his dismissal from government service, Moore became professor of applied meteorology at George Washington University.[10] Moore died on December 18, 1927, in Pasadena, California at the age of 71.[8][11] During his career, he was a frequent and popular speaker on meteorological topics and would published several works on meteorology.[2]
Bibliographyedit
Moore, Willis Luther (1899), Weather Forecasting; Some Facts Historical, Practical, and Theoretical, Weather Bureau.
Moore, Willis Luther (1904), Climate: Its Physical Basis and Controlling Factors, Weather bureau.
Moore, Willis Luther (1910), Descriptive Meteorology, New York: D. Appleton & Co..
Moore, Willis Luther (1917), "The Beginning of the Weather Bureau", Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C., vol. 20, pp. 237–240, JSTOR 40067085.
Referencesedit
^Kohler, Sue A.; Carson, Jeffrey R. (1978), Sixteenth Street Architecture, vol. 2, Commission of Fine Arts.
^ abRoe, E. T.; et al., eds. (1903), The Encyclopedia Americana, Americana Company.
^ abcdPietruska, Jamie L. (February 2011), "US Weather Bureau Chief Willis Moore and the Reimagination of Uncertainty in Long-Range Forecasting", Environment and History, Uncertain Environments, 17 (1), White Horse Press: 79–105, JSTOR 25799116.
^Herringshaw, Thomas William, ed. (1914), Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography, vol. 4, American Publishers' Association.
^Bradford, Marlene (August 1, 1999), "Historical Roots of Modern Tornado Forecasts and Warnings", Weather and Forecasting, 14 (4): 484–491, doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1999)014<0484:HROMTF>2.0.CO;2.
^"Willis L. Moore abruptly fired", The True Republican, p. 6, April 19, 1913, retrieved 2024-03-08.
^"Moore forced out of Weather Bureau; in response to President's demand, chief will retire from Office on July 31", The New York Times, p. 1, March 23, 1913, retrieved 2024-03-08.
^ ab"Willis Luther Moore", Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 9 (1): 29–30, January 1, 1928, doi:10.1175/1520-0477-9.1.29, JSTOR 26262214.
^Ellis, William Arba (1911), "Sketches of the trustees, presidents, vice-presidents, professors, alumni, past cadets, honorary graduates and under-graduates, 1867-1915", Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor, vol. 3, Capitol city Press, p. 537.
^"Prof. Willis L. Moore; Former Head of U. S. Weather Bureau at Washington Dies at 71", The New York Times, p. 23, December 19, 1927, retrieved 2024-03-08.
Further readingedit
"Professor Willis L. Moore, head of the Weather Bureau 1895-1913", NOAA Photo Library, National Weather Service, retrieved 2024-03-08.
Marquis, Albert Nelson, ed. (1912), Who's who in America, vol. 7, Chicago: A. N. Marquis.
Hartman, C. A. (1913), "A printer-scientist-farmer candidate for the portfolio of agriculture", Inland Printer, American Lithographer, 50, Maclean-Hunter Publishing Company: 537.
willis, luther, moore, january, 1856, december, 1927, american, meteorologist, author, educator, chief, weather, bureau, 1895, 1913, president, national, geographic, society, 1905, 1910, born, 1856, january, 1856scranton, pennsylvaniadieddecember, 1927, 1927, . Willis Luther Moore January 18 1856 December 18 1927 was an American meteorologist author and educator He was chief of the U S Weather Bureau 1895 1913 and president of the National Geographic Society 1905 1910 Willis Luther MooreBorn 1856 01 18 January 18 1856Scranton PennsylvaniaDiedDecember 18 1927 1927 12 18 aged 71 Pasadena CaliforniaSpouseMary LozierParentsLuthor T Moore father Lucy E Babcock mother Contents 1 Biography 2 Bibliography 3 References 4 Further readingBiography editMoore was born in Scranton Pennsylvania on January 18 1856 the son of Luthor T Moore and Lucy E Babcock During his youth the family lived on a farm in the Susquehanna Valley in New York His father served in Grant s army during the American Civil War where the eight year old Moore joined him at City Point selling newspapers to the Union troops Moore received his early education in Binghamton New York public shools 1 2 At the age of seventeen Moore went to work for The Republican a New York newspaper as a printer and reporter After an attempt to seek gold in the Black Hills failed he worked as a printer for The Hawk Eye in Burlington Iowa In 1876 he took the entrance exam for the meteorological training school of the Signal Service 3 He reached the grade of observer sergeant in 1886 By 1891 he was the Milwaukee Wisconsin district weather forecaster then a forecast official for the upper lakes region in Chicago Illinois in 1893 4 Secretary of Agriculture J Sterling Morton named Moore as chief of the U S Weather Bureau in 1895 succeeding Mark W Harrington 5 During this period long range weather forecasting was considered little more than quackery and Moore worked aggressively to denounce this activity However by 1906 he announced that the Weather Bureau was about to begin forecasting the weather a month in advance using scientific methods The Bureau began experimenting with weekly forecasts in 1908 then made them a standard release in 1910 However despite some successes these would remain as inaccurate as the older methods 3 Moore was subject to a Congressional investigation of alleged inappropriate spending on the Mount Weather research station in Virginia His management style was heavily criticized by subordinates House representative Theron Akin an ardent foe of Moore pushed for a House resolution to have Moore fired by the incoming Wilson administration 3 Moore submitted his resignation on April 5 and was dismissed by President Wilson on April 16 1913 6 7 He was succeeded by Charles F Marvin 3 From 1905 to 1910 Moore was President of the National Geographic Society Among other changes he originated the practice of financing expeditions by the society 8 He was awarded an honorary LL D from Norwich University in 1896 and a D Sc from St Lawrence University in 1906 9 Following his dismissal from government service Moore became professor of applied meteorology at George Washington University 10 Moore died on December 18 1927 in Pasadena California at the age of 71 8 11 During his career he was a frequent and popular speaker on meteorological topics and would published several works on meteorology 2 Bibliography editMoore Willis Luther 1899 Weather Forecasting Some Facts Historical Practical and Theoretical Weather Bureau Moore Willis Luther 1900 Moore s Meteorological Almanac and Weather Guide Rand McNally amp Company Moore Willis Luther 1904 Climate Its Physical Basis and Controlling Factors Weather bureau Moore Willis Luther 1910 Descriptive Meteorology New York D Appleton amp Co Moore Willis Luther 1917 The Beginning of the Weather Bureau Records of the Columbia Historical Society Washington D C vol 20 pp 237 240 JSTOR 40067085 References edit Kohler Sue A Carson Jeffrey R 1978 Sixteenth Street Architecture vol 2 Commission of Fine Arts a b Roe E T et al eds 1903 The Encyclopedia Americana Americana Company a b c d Pietruska Jamie L February 2011 US Weather Bureau Chief Willis Moore and the Reimagination of Uncertainty in Long Range Forecasting Environment and History Uncertain Environments 17 1 White Horse Press 79 105 JSTOR 25799116 Herringshaw Thomas William ed 1914 Herringshaw s National Library of American Biography vol 4 American Publishers Association Bradford Marlene August 1 1999 Historical Roots of Modern Tornado Forecasts and Warnings Weather and Forecasting 14 4 484 491 doi 10 1175 1520 0434 1999 014 lt 0484 HROMTF gt 2 0 CO 2 Willis L Moore abruptly fired The True Republican p 6 April 19 1913 retrieved 2024 03 08 Moore forced out of Weather Bureau in response to President s demand chief will retire from Office on July 31 The New York Times p 1 March 23 1913 retrieved 2024 03 08 a b Willis Luther Moore Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 9 1 29 30 January 1 1928 doi 10 1175 1520 0477 9 1 29 JSTOR 26262214 Ellis William Arba 1911 Sketches of the trustees presidents vice presidents professors alumni past cadets honorary graduates and under graduates 1867 1915 Norwich University 1819 1911 Her History Her Graduates Her Roll of Honor vol 3 Capitol city Press p 537 Symons s Monthly Meteorological Magazine vol 62 H M Stationery Office 1927 Prof Willis L Moore Former Head of U S Weather Bureau at Washington Dies at 71 The New York Times p 23 December 19 1927 retrieved 2024 03 08 Further reading edit Professor Willis L Moore head of the Weather Bureau 1895 1913 NOAA Photo Library National Weather Service retrieved 2024 03 08 Marquis Albert Nelson ed 1912 Who s who in America vol 7 Chicago A N Marquis Hartman C A 1913 A printer scientist farmer candidate for the portfolio of agriculture Inland Printer American Lithographer 50 Maclean Hunter Publishing Company 537 Non profit organization positions Preceded byWilliam John McGee President of the National Geographic Society1905 1910 Succeeded byHenry Gannett Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willis Luther Moore amp oldid 1214311318, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
