Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-23
DANIEL KIRKWOOD.

VI Lhhiei hlrkWoou, by l'fOI. hODerL
!. Alley and from that sketch tho fol-
lowing is taken:
"When ] die | want to go where DIR.
Kirkwood goes.''
Such is the simple and yet forcible
eulogy OF ono of his old pupils and to
that sentiment every one who inti-
mately knew him will give ready as
sent. His life so pure, so simple, so
sweet and yet so powerful, Is certainly
worth study.
He was of Scotch Irish descent, bis
grandfather coming from Ireland and
settling in Delaware in 177l. His
parents were both born in this country.
He was born in Hartford county, Mary
land, September 9th, 1914. His early
life was spent on the farm and he had
only the usual advantages Of the farmer
boys of that day. His active mind was
not satisfied with farm life, and SO at
the age of 10 he quit the farm and took
charge OF country school at Hopewell,
York county, Pa, In this school there
was young man who desired to study
algebra. He mentioned the fact to
young Kirkwood, who told him he had
heard of the subject and no thought il
was something in which letters instead
OF figures were used in calculation. A
patron of the school had copy Of
Bonnycastle's algebra. This was bor-
rowod and together teacher and student
explored its mysteries. This years
work aroused Kirliwood's interest in
mathematics and he became worship.
per at the shrine of the purest of all
sciences. In 1884 he entered the York
County Academy, York, Pa. His work
there must have been Of high grade,
for in 1888 he was elected first assistant
and mathematical instructor. He held
this position for five years, resigning
in 1913 to become principal of the high
school at Lancaster, Pa. In 1851 no
took charge of the department Of
mathematics in Delaware College and
in '54 was promoted to the presidency
He only held the presidency two years,
resigning to accept the chair Of mathe-
matics in Indiana University. With
the exception of one year, lS66-67, when
he was professor of mathematics in
Washington and Jefferson College, he
remained in Indiana University until
1856. when on account of age and fail
ing health, be resigned. In 1889 he
removed to Southern California and
passed the last years of his life with a
favorite nephew on an orange ranch at
Riverside. He died in June. 1855.
His natural bent for mathematics
found its activity in application to
astronomical problems. His whole life
has been devoted to the teaching and to
the study OF theoretical and matho-
matical astronomy. Never having ac-
cess to an observatory. he was content
to take the observations of others and
from them work out those broad gem
ordinations and specific explanations
that have been of such great value to
astronomical science. He took the
greatest interest in the work of observ-
atories, and often keenly regretted that
he did not have the opportunity of
using one. When the object glass of
| the Lick telescope was being ground
he said to the writer, I" l shall die hap
pier il | live long enough to get one
peep through that great Telescope" A
| few years ago he made the trip to Mt
Hamilton, and remained several days,
the bonored guest of the whole observ-
atory force, but the clouds prevented
the one peep His disappointment was
| great, for he felt that at his advanced
age he could never again make the trip.
Perhaps in his case the lack of an
observatory was real gain TO astron.
omy. His peculiar strength was IN
the line of theoretical investigation.
His great mathematical ability and his
marvellous intuition especially fitted
him for proposing, investigating and
proving theories. An observatory might
have turned him aside.
In lSi9 he made public what is now
known in Astronomical literature az
"kirkwood's Law This at once
gave him prominence. Because of this
discovery, Proctor has named him thu
'kepler of America. " The
announcement of this law won for it,
author the notice and friendship of the
leading astronomers Of Europe. The
strength and depth of some of the
friendships is well illustrated by the
following incident told by Judge Roach.
While the Judge was in Rome he at
tended a reception where no met tht
distinguished astronomer, Father
Secchi. The Italian astronomer paic
very little attention to Judge Roact
until it was learned that he was from
Indiana. Father Secchi then became
greatly interested and said, ''Do yoI
know DR.. Kirkwood, the astronomer
OF Indiana University" On being
assured that he did. the old astronomer
was profuse with his attentions anc
throwing his arms about Judge Roact
embraced him. DIR. Kirkwood gave
much attention and study to the sub
ject of comets and meteorH. In thil
field he was an authority. His two
books, "Meteoric Astronomy" in 1856
and Comets and Meteors," 1873, arr
both we'll known.
Many of his contributions to curren
scientific literature relate to comets ant
meteors. His study on these subiecti
has done much to verify and slight,
modify the Nebular Hypothesis. Wher
about so asteroids were known DR.
Kirkwood announced the theory tina
in those spaces were simple commen
suitability of notion with that of Jupi
ter occurs, there must be gaps in tht
asteroid zone. The theory was baset
on mathematical and physical facts
1t was at once received with favor ant
in 1870, Proctor spoke of it in tn,
} highest terms. At present the larg,
number of known asteroids goes far Il
verify this theory. There is scarcely
doubt that the physical facts underly
ing the law of commensurRbility hav,
in tho main regulated the distribution
of the asteroids. Only two or threI
, exceptions, the most prominent o
which is the minor planet Menippe, ar,
yet known. DIR. Kirkwond applied th
same theory to the rings of Saturn anC
found that the breaks occurred jus
where commensurability of motion
with Saturn's satellites would indicat,
they should be. DIR. Meyer of Genevi
in a work on "Saturn's Rings ha
worked out in detail the theory sug
gested by Kirkwood. Kirkwood call
attnntinn 10 this in a communication