Newcomb
SIMON, an American astronomer; born in Wallace, N. S., March 12, 1835; was educated by his father; came to the United States in 1853; taught in Maryland for two years; studied at the Lawrence Scientific School in Cambridge, graduating in 1858. In 1861 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the United States navy and assigned to the United States Naval Observatory in Washington. While there he negotiated the contract for the 26-inch telescope authorized by Congress, and supervised its construction. He was connected with the "American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac"; associated with the equipment of the Lick observatory in California; was secretary of the commission appointed by the United States Government to observe the transit of Venus, Dec. 9, 1874; 9, 1874; and in 1884 became Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University. He contributed largely to astronomical literature, especially along mathematical lines. Among his numerous books are: "Popular Astronomy" (1878); "His Wisdom the Defender" (1900); etc. He died July 11, 1909.