New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-29
MARIA MITCHELL DEAD.
THE ASTRONOMERS LIFE CLOSES AT LYNN,
MASS.
TROUBLED WITH A BRAIN DIsEAsE-HER EARLY
SUCCESS IN THE STUDY OF ASTRONOMY
A LONG CAREER AT vAsSAR

A long CAREER AT VAsSAR
Lynn, Mass, June 23.-Mlss Maria Mitchell, tho
astronomer, died at 80 this morning at tho residence
IN this city OF Mrs. benjamin H. Carrier She had
suffered with disease Of the BRAIN and had been
falling for tho past year and half
Miss Mitchell was born at Nantucket, Mass, on
August !, 1915 Her father was William Mitchell, an
astronomer OF note. and her mother was member
Of the Foger family. They were Quskers. Mr..
Mitchell a teacher for several years, and early
gave spec la attention to mathematics and astronomy.
Becoming cashier OF the Pacific Bank In Nantucket,
he built an observatory on top Of tho bank build
Ing and devoted oil his leisure to the study OF tho
heavens. His eldest daughter showed remarkable
aptitude for the study OF advanced Mathematics, and
she her fathers assistant IN his observations
and computations. When she died this
duty dcvolvcd Maria. then eleven years old.
While assisting her father she acquired hey education
under his tuition. Later she studied under Charles
pcrCc. and became his assistant in hle school at
Nantucket. When Eighteen years old Miss Mitchell
appointed librarian Of the Nantucket Athchaeum.
which place che filed for twenty ycarl Her interest
IN astronomy was not relaxed while she hold this
post but all her spare time sIcnt In the study
Of tho stars. she sotO surpassed hor father IN thu
zeal with which she prosecuted her work. che mnde
many careful observations and dcvo;cl considerable
time to examination OF n-bulas and tho search for
comets. Her efforts proved successful ard. besides
finding small noIulae, on October IL. ls4T sho dis
covered comet for which che received
gold medal from the King OF Denmark
AID copper medal struck by the
Republo OF san Marino Italy. Tho discovery was
also Is several Europeans, but President Everett, Of
Harvard, proved COucusv"y that Miss Mitchell
ru'.'l'd TO do honor TAls was tho turning point
IN the young Astronomers career II brought her
encouragement, recognition FROM scholars and conf
Gc-Cc IN her abilities. She Contributed a paper
Of cacult;loas upon Ills comet 10 tho smithsonian In
srt4'lou.
Wen TIC publication OF IAc American Nautical
Almanac" begun Miss Mitchell employ oil TO
t. Certain work for IT, this she continued until
Ter ar ."ment In 1895 as professor OF astronomy
A. Na,,.r College
Miss Mitchell went to Europe In 1853 and visited
o." Vrnc,pM OhScT At1rcs of Grrat Britain and the
Cua.nrrf. she was the guest IN England OF s.T John
H"rr' Icl and FIR George Is. Any, t.cn Astronomer
L.. al at Gro'a" :.h. 81 IL Ycrrer in Paris aud Hnm
n,At IA LcrIu Uu her return from Europe Miss
N"'."il va. llrScu'ed with telescope. much larger
'.," 40 owned ~ Lor father, BY the women Of
Ara'r,, tArYusr Tho cNcrions Of Miss Elizabeth
i'.' pIy, q Eus,0sL his set UP at NANTUCKET
hn' vs., s""u after Tc,npy"! to Lynn, Mass, where
W. N.',acl novel after The death VI his wife. In
l-tj MIS- Mitchell VI, called . the rll"" Of pr
ir--or II a. rOGumy at Va>sar College. which, vita
-" post Of director OF Ia, observatory. che
r''s"~t until January Is. In her work sho tai
Tie ASSISTANCE Of her faurr until his dalh In leG-.
IL 49, Nj MI'cLcu oGCgr~l her resignation, bur
- TN tees refused TO taho any definite action Th0y
-gaHlci Ter long leave Of ste"uce. telling her to
~ until sAc felt strong enough 10 resumh Sorh
Iucu the alu!ADac inyitcd her 10 a reception, aad
ul" thousand Invitations issued for tie
c,~.ou Lpt Miss Mllc!cl was unable to DO present,
aari sc wrote from Lynn: d" have noticed that tie
attempt 10 grow young again Is II; seventy, not
often success. II goes to my heart 10 1ay Tat
cannot come to the reception IA New York but am
tired, and after more rau LAlf century am trying
rv>t.7
Ms Mitchell was the first woman 10 be- elected
80 the American Academy Of Arts and science.
sAc also prominent IN movements 10 elevate
WrTAu's work, and ia 1873 and 1870 Ehn held t!Ir
r siCNcy Of tho American Association for tho Advance
OF Won an. che member Of various Sicnufr
.cr,. The American Assucia''Ou for o." Adv anCo.
ucut OF science elcCO7! her mcmbrr IA 1850 and
I"!ioW ia I574. The deg5ce M L. -. G" sH!r-si
Columbia in ls-T. Miss M!tcLeirs wOrh at NAIsar VA,
garlod her with great veucrauon and affection. and
many lei by her example 70 o.uunrr unir
t.oaom,aI studies after leaving c'l"g" She va.
uniting IN Lcr work, All sLe discovered .-I".
comet, I"slc the one hrst seen IN lea. In re-. ant
wear, -dlC SPECIAL - .iE to ~un si"'s and 'hn
satellites 0! Jupiter. Her published writings w"fc
ted to t,.ru'IaC pAI:n, Will the exception 81
spus poems cNLulJIici u volume called heA"evI.
FROM The Shurv1 OF Nantucket" lhIaj. lEEl ahOIt
Ten years ago Miss Mitchell had mover been SICK
GJ'.