New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-13


Richard Anthony Proctor born In LOndon.
England in tho district known as Chelsea, on March
%, 1887. Although a man he was robust and
healthy he was delicate child and for this reason
lie was educated at home by his parents unHl his
eleventh year. He early developed fematHaoe
fondness for reading. Whatyer book he conld la'
bis hands on be read from beginning to END. lie
discovered the folly Of this laor In life, and became
adept skmmng' a book But his memory
for things he read was always good In l-47 nc was
sent to school at large academy IN Miltonon-Ihamcs'
vhers he remained until ISL, by which time he had
worked his way 10 the top Of the school In loo
his father died The distress occasloned by his loss
was increased by a complicated series OF sW's ID
chancery concerning large estate that MS ID ne.
would have como Into possession OF had he h'eD
little longer.
TO help supply the sncws Of war for the LAWYERS
Richard became a clerk In the London JOINT STOCK
Bank in 1884 but he employed all his spare M
in studying mathematics. In the fall Of 1913 MIS-
proctor succeeded 10 the estate Of her husband
balfbrother without having to 90 to law ABOUT L.
and Richard babe goodbye to the bank. ana fh'c'eu
Ms mama a., a student at Kings College. London
This was in October and at the Christmas e1anlna-
ton. that same year. young f'o0'o''
then only eighteen stood hs' III
all his classes. After barely years study al h"s'
College no Joined his elder brother at 81. Johns
I
died This had such A depressing effect upon nm
that he s-cmed FOR a time TO abandon all amDi'Nh
for scholastic distinction. For two years nc ull
nothing at mathematics. In 1sG0 he vas graduated
as Bachelor Of Arts. and before the year was o"'
he was married For three years he stuffed history
and literature and It was only when the death OF
his irstborn in 1863 drove him to seek distraction
in NOR. enKrossins studies that he returned to his
first love- mathematics and began TO study astronomy
In December 1865 he published paper on
Double Stars In Tho Cornhiil Magazine In
1904 he began series Of invest gallons Ia regard 10
the great rlus-d planet OF the solar system tAs il9
OF which were ultimately embodied FL his treatise
on saturn and his SYSTEM In preparing this
work he had to make many mars, and from them
/ grow IFS "Gnomorlc Star Atlas which In turn
| suggested hi, Handbook OF tho stars This was
| published in 1868 In that year commercial earth
quake struck tho country and along with many others
Mr. Proctor's fortune disappeared Thereafter NJ Na'
! TO depend on his pen to make livnS Tor himself
and a largo family. Book publishers proved obdura'e
for time, but his courage did not desert him. lie
continued to work hard lie suoccc1cd Ia s'OlH7
several magazine articles published.
In 1906 no was elected m,mbcr Of the Royal
Astronomical Society and IN 1865 he obtained Sea'
In It's council In 1874 no chosen one Of Us hon
orary secretaries. Meanwhile he was bringing out lis
boohs in rapid succession. His Industry as pouhi'ss
lie probably did moro than any other ono person 10
his Constellation Seasons sun Views Of he Earth
and Charts Of Mars In SIS he issued llalf Hours
With the Telescope followed In lHtJ - utll uopil
Win th- et,-. ia 1870 be achieved his first NOT aDe
srrc.ss with Other worlds Than Ouls.' In lo'@ d.
published no fewer than five books.
In 1879 lie visited this country aud deilNcrfi
/ IN several leading cities various phases "l a.
tronJmy The lectures did much 10 stimulate seAeIa
| interest in that fascinating and nexhanst1e ,'uls
About tho latter end ~ 1915 be again visited Ah'fV
/ and made another extensive lecture tour later ID.
found stronger tie 70 bind him TO America us 81 sc
ye having did he married ia ISL at II. Joseph Mo-
Miss Sails y Crowley, Of that city. tor some un
| he mnds ~. Joseph bis home. From ms s1e oi tn'
| Atlantic he still continued 10 edit scienthc magazine
published in London. -, - H.
| He was a man ~ great versatility as well as IN
dustrv lie applied his knowledge Of MAJ males 70
the study OF whist and wrote series or a'ucIH OF
The ramo ,or The Tribune lie also studied poker an'
erdcavorcd 10 reduce that game - som,ihins lhe
/ f~cncc bu. experts did not proht much Dy MS III
/ structionS Mr. Proctor was man OF genial Der
sonslty lie was bright and versatile rather 'han
/ rrofornd and original lie did more 20 poprarle ih
science OF astronomy than 10 enrich n by d'c9Ver's
lie know how 10 mako science. In all rs branches m
tracffve and Interesting because be connected u WI
the ordinary affairs and transactions Vt everyday lie