Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-21
Prof. Richard A. Proctor.

Richard Anthony Proctor, whose death
at New York from yellow fever has been
announced, YVES born in Chelsea, Eng
land, March %, 1897. la youth his health
was imperfect and he was educated at
home. In 1854 he was clerk in "a bank and
devoted his leisure to the study of mathe-
MATES. From boyhood he was fond
of studying the skies and very early cam.
to know all the consultations and read
many popular works on astronomy. In
1855 he entered Kings college, London,
and in 1856 St. Johns college, Cambridge.
Here he graduated in 1860. He was APP
pointed an honorary fellow of Kings col
lege in 1868 and fellow of the Royal Astro-
nomical society in 1866. He was appointed
honorary secretary of that society and edi-
tor Of its proceedings in February, 1872,
but resigned these offices in November,
1873. Having analysed results collected
by the Her5cnels, Strive and others, and
carried out series of original researches,
includlug the Construction of chart
OF 324 900 stars, Mr.. Proctor was led
to new theory of the structure
of the stellar universe; he investi-
gate the conditions of the trlDsits Of
Vel ia in 1874 and 1882, and published
many illustrative charts. He miin'alned
Oh lde)ltllC'l STOuuuS, III lObJ Tue SiliCb
established theory OF tbe solar curona
and also that OF the inner complex solar
atmosphere afterward discovered by
Young OF America. Mr.. Proctor l,cturrd
on astronomy in America Ill 1874. He
again visited tine United Sta es In 1915,
and after al absence OF seven months,
during " hich period ne delivered l42 lee
| tur, S, he returned to England IN VI ~,
| 1876 In November, 1919, Mr.. Proctor an
nouDced that he had severed his come C.
tiou with the Roman Catholic church, to
which he had been a convcro of some
years standing. Th theoogians OF the
church, he intimate d, had cow need him
that the holding of certain scientific views
was Incompatible with loyalty to the
faith. AS, however, he was convinced
| that these scientific views We're in the
main correct, he, acting On his private and
individual judgment, thought he had no
alternative but to abandon the church:
In 1881 he visited Australia. He returned
| to England via San Francisco. On the
steamer crossing the Pacific he formed
| the acquaintance of niece OF Gen. Jeffer-
son Thompson of Virginia, who soon af-
terward became his wife, His first wife
had died January, 1879 The distinguish
ed scientist and his bride proceeded to
England, but, after brief residence there,
they concluded to return to the New
World. In this county they first resided
in st. Joseph, Mo, the former home OF
| iiiS WIG, DhO III 1901 lhCy iSiiio'NN w
Oaklaw1, Fla. His works are 'Sa-
turn and its SYSTEM" 1865 Handbook
of Stars" and "Gnomonic Star Atlas, "
1866; constellation Season.. Sun Views
of the Earth" 1867; Half Hours with
the Telescope" 1868; Half Hours with
Stars" 1869; "Other Worlds than Ouls ;
the Plurality of Worlds studied under the
light Of recent Scientific Researches"
with large Star Atlas, 1870, fourth edition,
1878; The SUI" "LlVht Science Tor
Leisure Hours" and elementary \ pd 70
omy," 1871; "Orbs Around Us" Fee
mentary Geogrp ply" "School Astiou,
omy" and "s,ssaSs on Astronomy"
1872; "The Moon" "BorderlaDd Of
Science" "EXpanse of Heaven aHd
second series of Light Science,
1873; Universe and Coming, Tran
sits" and "Trsnsits of Venus" 1874;
third edition, 1915 ard "A Treatis7 on
the Cycloid aud all Forms of Cycloldal
Curves, aud or the Use of Cyclo'dal
Curves in dealing with the Motions OF
Planets, Comets, etc, ard OF Matter Pro-
iected from the SUM-" 1873.