Edward Singleton Holden

Background

Edward Singleton Holden was born on November 5, 1846 in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States. He was descended from Justinian Holden who came with his brother Richard from England to America in 1634 and died at Cambridge, Massachussets, in 1691. His parents were Edward (originally Jeremiah Fenno) Holden and Sarah Frances (Singleton) Holden. After the death of his mother when he was three years old he lived with relatives in Cambridge, Massachussets.

Education

In Cambridge Holden attended private schools. He was accustomed to say that his interest in astronomy was aroused during visits to the Harvard College Observatory where his cousin, George P. Bond, was an observer. In 1860-62 he was a student at the Academy of Washington University, St. Louis, and he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science at Washington University in 1866. He had studied under Professor William Chauvenet in whose family he lived during a part of his college career. Entering West Point in 1866, he graduated third in his class in 1870.

He was awarded four honorary doctorates by American universities.

Career

In 1872 Holden was second lieutenant in the 4th Artillery; then for two years he was an instructor in the Military Academy. In 1872 he also published a treatise on The Bastion System of Fortifications, Its Defects and Their Remedies. In March 1873 he resigned his commission and accepted a position at the Naval Observatory, where he was assigned to the transit circle as assistant to William Harkness.

After the completion of the 26-inch refractor in November 1873 he was transferred to this instrument to assist Simon Newcomb. The material for Holden's Monograph on the Central Parts of the Nebula of Orion (1882) was gathered during this period. In 1876 he was sent by the government to London to study and report on possible improvements in the instrumental equipment of the Observatory. In 1879, he was relieved, in part, from technical duty and appointed librarian, a position for which he was admirably fitted by his great familiarity with astronomical literature. Besides cataloguing the library, he prepared bibliographies of special subjects, wrote annual reports of the progress of astronomy, and popular articles; with Newcomb, wrote Astronomy for High Schools and Colleges (1879), and published Sir William Herschel, His Life and Works (1881).

In 1881 he resigned his post to become director of the Washburn Observatory at the University of Wisconsin. Here he instituted the series of Publications of the observatory, and issued the first four volumes, which contain his observations and discussions. He was placed in charge of the expedition organized by the National Academy of Sciences to observe the solar eclipse of May 6, 1883, in the Caroline Islands, and his report has always been regarded as a model in form and completeness. Newcomb and Holden had sketched out plans for the Lick Observatory in 1874 and during the following years had given freely of their counsel.

Holden made several trips to Mount Hamilton, and as early as 1877 had been selected as the future director. In 1885 he was elected president of the University of California and director of the Lick Observatory, to serve in the former capacity until the observatory was completed. He assumed active charge of the observatory on June 1, 1888. Here he at once showed remarkable judgment by associating with himself younger men whom he regarded as promising--E. E. Barnard, J. M. Schaeberle, James E. Keeler, and W. W. Campbell. S. W. Burnham was older, with a well-established reputation. These men were assigned to carefully selected lines of research and given great liberty of action and the privilege of publishing over their own signatures.

After his resignation in 1897 he spent four years in literary work. In 1901 he prepared for publication the fourth volume of Cullum's Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, and from November of that year until his death he was librarian of the Military Academy. Some 30, 000 volumes were added, the library catalogued, and complete bibliographies prepared on every military subject. In 1902 he published a Centennial History of the United States Military Academy. His interests were very wide and during his career he wrote on many subjects.

Achievements

• Holden remembered as a prominent astronomer, educator and librarian, who had made numerous achievments during his career. He edited three volumes of the Publications and five of the Contributions of the observatory; sent out five eclipse expeditions; founded the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and solicited money to provide medals to be bestowed by the Society. During his administration the photographic correcting lens for the 36-inch telescope, the D. O. Mills spectrograph, and the Crossley reflector were all secured and installed, and an electric plant was built. What little time was left from his administrative duties for personal research was devoted largely to the photography of the moon. While he served as a librarian, some 30, 000 volumes were added, the library catalogued, and complete bibliographies prepared on every military subject. The asteroid 872 Holda, the crater Holden on the Moon and the crater Holden on Mars are named in his honor.

Works

More photos

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  • Studies in Central American Picture-Writing - First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the - Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, ... Office, Washington, 1881, pages 205-245

    (Studies in Central American Picture-Writing - First Annua...)

  • Sir William Herschel - His Life and Work - With Poetry by Alfred Noyes

    (A fascinating biography of one Europe's greatest astronom...)

  • Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20) - Wonders of Earth, Sea and Sky

    (Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20) - Wonders of Eart...)

  • The Sciences, Illustrated Edition (Yesterday's Classics)

    (An introduction to the sciences that wakens the imaginati...)

  • The Classic Works of Edward Singleton Holden

    (Studies in Central American Picture-Writing Sir William H...)

  • Real things in nature : a reading book of science for American boys and girls

    (Real things in nature : a reading book of science for Ame...)

Membership

Holden was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1885; he was a foreign associate of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Astronomical Society of France.

Personality

W. W. Campbell said that "Holden's conversation was entertaining to the point of brilliancy; his hearers did not always agree with his point of view, which he defended with vigor and skill, but no one could be found to deny that Professor Holden had made the subject seem alive. "

Quotes from others about the person

• "I know of no example in the world in which young men, most of whom were beginners, attained such success as did those whom Holden collected around him. " - Simon Newcomb
  
  "The evidences of Professor Holden's organizing ability and energy are written all over the Lick Observatory. " - W. W. Campbell

Connections

On May 8, 1871, Holden married Mary Chauvenet.

Father:

Edward Holden

Mother:

Sarah Frances (Singleton) Holden

Spouse :

Mary (Chauvenet) Holden

Son :

William C. Holden