Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-29
Capt. William Bowie,
Former Official Of
Geodetie Survey, Dies
Coined International
Recognition for Theory
If Isostosy

Recognition for Theory
If Isostosy
Capt. william Bowie, IS, formel
chief of the Division of Geodesy
United States Coast and Geodetit
Survey. died yesterday in Mount
Alto Hospital after an illness of sew.
eral weeks.
A civil engineer, Capt. Bowie spe-
cialized, during che greater part OF
his career, IN the geodetic branch
of the surveys work. He was widely
known for his outstanding engineer
ing and scientific attainments and
for his many contributions to the
advancement of his profession. His
development of the theory of isos-
tasy gained him international recog-
milton.
Born in Anne Arundel County
Md. May 6, 1872, Capt. Bowie re-
ceived his early education at public
schools and private academies He
later received degrees at Trinity
College (B. S., M. S., Sc. d., Lehigh
University &C. E., Sc. d., the Uni
versity of Edinburgh, Scotland
ILL. d.. and George Washington
University ILL. d..
Joined Survey Staff in 1895.
Capt. Bowie entered the service of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a
field engineer in 1895 and remained
active until January !, 1887. In
1909 he was appointed chief of the
Division of GeodeSy in the Washing
ton office, which position he held
until his retirement. His assign
ments included field operations in
many parts of the Nation, Alaska
the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
During the World War he was
commissioned major in the Army
Engineer Corps and was assigned to
the Mapping Division of the Office
of the chief of engineers in Wash
ington
During an extremely active career
he served as president of the Wash
ington Society of Engineers in 1914,
president of the Philosophical So
ciety of Washington, 1926; president
of the Washington Academy of Sci
ences, 1890; president ofthe Amer
lean Geophysical Union, 1929-1932:
chairman of the Board of Surveys
and Maps of the Federal Govern
ment, 1922-1924. member of the
Executive Committee of that board
from 1920 until his death; member
of the Advisory Council to the Fed
eral Board Surveys and Maps; mem
Der of the Committee on Surveying
and Mapping of the American Engi-
neering Council; vice president of
the Society of American Military
Engineers, 1884.
He also served as a member of
the Board of Directors and as a
member of the Executive Commit
tee of the Society of American Mill
tary Engineers, chairman of the
division of surveying and mapping
of the American Society of Civil
Engineers, president of the District
of Columbia Chapter of the Society
of Sigma XII, 1885; houorary
president of the Pan-American In
stitute of Geography and History,
president of the International Geo.
detic Association, president of the
Interna tional Union of Geodesy and
GeopfysicS, 1896.
Received Cresson Medal.
Capt Bowie was awarded the
Elliott Cresson Medal in 1887 by the
Franklin Institute of Philadelphia
for his contributions to the science
of geodesy. He also was awarded
the Charles Lagrange Prize by the
Royal Academy of Belgium, was
made an officer In the Order of
Orange-Nassau by the Queen of the
the Gross of Grand Oncer of the
Order of St. Sava from Yugoslavia
in 1889.
He was appointed executive Sec
rotary of the Society of American
Military Engineers in December,
1899, and held that position until
his death, meanwhile editing the
society's magazine.
He made his home here at 1900
Connecticut avenue NV.
Capt. Bowie leaves his wife, Mrs.
Elizabeth T. Bowie; son, Clagett
Bowie of Baltimore, and two
brothers, John Bowie of Grassland,
Md, and Maj. Edward Bowie Of
Berkeley, Calf.
Funeral services will be held TO-
morrow at 1870 pm. at St. Thomas
Episcopal Church. Burial will be in
Arlington National Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will Include
Admiral L. o. Colbert, Gen. Mason
Patrick, Albert Pike, Gen. Frank
Keefer, Capt. John Ewell, DR.. w.
D. Conner, Charles K. Moser, DR..
Thomas H. Taliaferro, Comdr. J. H.
Hawley, Capt. N. H. Heck. Capt.
G. T. Rude, Comdr. C. L. Garner,
Col. j. Monroe Johnson, DR.. Richard
M. Field and DR.. John A. Fleming.