New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-24
OBITUARY.
URBAN JEAN JOSEPH LEyERRTER

URBAN JEAN JOSEPH LEVERRIER.
rEY TELEGRAPH To THE 1RuBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Sept 23.-The Smithsonian Insti-
tute has received n telegram announcing the death
of the celebrated astronomer Leyerrier He died at
O'Clock this morning, Paris time
The science of astronomy loses its most en-
inent disciple present century by death Of NJ
Ieverrier, "A rule astronomers are long lived there
science and no profession in which so many emf
neut men have attained serene old Anxiety and
overwork have cut short the years Of NJ Leyerrer be-
fore reaching the extreme limit bur before the full
hllment OF many great undertakings His popular and
worldwide fame rests chiefly and Justly upon his
prediction Of the discovery OF the Outermost planet Of
the solar systema feat that has parallel in the his
tory Of the Sciences But many OF his other works
especially OF years. such his determHato OF the
solar parallax from three distinct sources, have,
doubt, called for heavier and prolonged strain
upon his energies than the calculations which resulted ID
the discovery OF Neptune.
ST. Leyerrier was born 81. To- the Capital OF La
Manche in the old Department Of Normandy March IL,
ISL lie was in turn student at the college OF his
native town; another town OF Normandy, Caen; at
the College Of Louis h Grand in Paris, and finally at the
Polytechnic School where he a distinguished pupil
On leaving shat school ho obtained position engineer
to the Bureau OF Tobacco which him some leisure
TO pursue his studies AT this time he made
lt.NAA'H~N
essays upon the compounds Of phosphorous;
but his interest was absorbed by mathematical
Studies he obtained appointment in the Poytech-
mic school. In histwenty-eghth year ~ produced two
memoirs upon the motions OF the planets Jupiter saturn
and UCanus The theory OF the memoirs was IN support
OF well-known inference Of Lagrange, that the
irregularities OF motion among the planets, caused by
their mutual attractions, counterbaianced
that the solar system viii never be disar-
ranged. At the suggestion OF Arag0 he turned
his attention 10 the problem OF the perurDations OF
Mercury orbit and this favorte study he returned
NJ intervals during tie OF his life, being among
the latest which be offered to the world his deductions
OF the unknown from the known facts OF the system
His admission the Astronomical section Of the French
Academy OF Sciences, In 1916 was based upon his
essays the orbits Of certain shortly after his
election be began the researches which destined to
add planet 10 the solar System, aud bring him
imperishable fame.
The method by which this great discovery reached
cannot be more than vaguely ind sed here. NJ Lever
rer was engaged ia studying the orbit Of what then
supposed the planet, Uranus The devations
the orbit had been attributed solely the attractions
Of saturn and Jupiter. The work which NJ Leverrier
for the devati0ns by these at
fractions. Gradually lie became convinced hatthe form
Of the orbit OF Uranus could not thus be explained.
By a refined mathematical analysis he found that
the conditions OF the problem could be met by
the sunnostion that planet outside OF Uranus exercised
an attraction upon It, lie calculated the position u tie
hypothetical planet, and nOunccl 90 the Aca'emy Oh
Sciences that 40 certain point In the heavens, a GER
tain time not far dstat the planet might be found
Within less four months afrerward the planet Nep-
tune found in the region Indicated, being hrs seen
by German astronomer The calculation or the place
OF the unknown planet correct within Two degrees
No event In the whole history Of astronomy has ever
caused so great astonisment II everywhere hailed
IA among tho greatest triumphs Of science. Honors
were heaped upon II. LoverrIer by all the scientific
academies OF the world BY curious coincidence the
same class Of calculations had been completed with a
similar result, by John Couch Adams, the English as
tronomer and only failure to announce his results at
au early date deprived UT. Adams OF claim for priority
OF discovery.
In 1878 II. Ievcrricr entered political life as Demo-
cra, bat after election TO the Legislative Assembly me
gradually modified ms opinions, and eventually sided
with the Imper.alists. Hc held the title Of SEN
aior and became inspectorGcnerai oi PUBLIC lhsiruc
ton under Louis Napoleon. be relinqushed his
work in astronomical science, and be continually kept mp
the investigations OF tie planetary orbits. which was
the chief business OF hi5 HE Ia 1888 the death Of
Arago " Leyerrier succeeded 70 the position OF
Director OF the Observatory at Paris, post
which lie held tll 1870. when he voluntarily
resigned. He was rcappointed in 1872, and
has since retained the position. The erection OF the
great telescope now in place in the Observatory was
"A matter OF great 10 Leverrier. He tried TO
hasten the progress Of the work, with little result.
When at length t was complete he congratulated
upon it, It comes TOO soon,' he replied codiy'
II was not soon enough for his Use. His la
borious calculations the distance Of the sun.
and his studies OF orbit OF Mercury, with view to
determine the existence OF nterMercural planets are
believed TO have caused seepessnoss which injured BIZ
general health and within a few months IN apaciiated
INN for further work But what he had already accom-
lisbed ia among tie most valuable well the moss
voluminous OF the modern works OF science