Background

Henry T. Eddy was born on June 9, 1844, at Stoughton, Massachusetts, the eldest son of Henry Eddy, a Congregational minister, physician, farmer, and inventor, and of Sarah (Torrey) Eddy, a graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary (now College) where she taught mathematics for three years. In his boyhood Henry Turner Eddy excelled in mental arithmetic, constructed a mechanical model illustrating a cubic algebraic equation, and was interested in birds. He was earnestly religious and prayerful, and lived a sheltered life on the farm.

Education

Eddy was educated at Yale and later took a further scientific course in Berlin and Paris.

In Cornell University he received the degrees of Computer Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy.

Career

After serving one year at the University of Tennessee, he became in 1869 assistant professor of mathematics and civil engineering in Cornell University, acted for a time as head of the department.

In 1873 he went to Princeton as adjunct professor of mathematics and the following year joined the faculty of the University of Cincinnati where he remained for sixteen years as professor of mathematics, astronomy, and civil engineering, being dean of the academic faculty from 1874 to 1877 and also from 1884 to 1889. The year 1879-80 was spent abroad in study. In 1890 he was the acting president and president-elect of the University. From 1891 to 1894 he was president of the Rose Polytechnic Institute. He then went to the University of Minnesota as professor of engineering and mechanics, became dean of the graduate school in 1906 and also, in 1907, head of the department of mathematics and mechanics in the college of engineering. After retirement in 1912 he spent several years on a study of the properties and stresses in reinforced concrete floor slabs. He was a member of the leading scientific and education societies of the country and from time to time held chief offices in several of them. He was a deacon of the First Congregational Church in Minneapolis, a director of St. Anthony Falls Bank, the Pillsbury House Settlement, and the Barnard-Cope Manufacturing Company.

Achievements

• Henry Turner Eddy contributed most by his discerning application of the methods of mathematical physics to the solution of engineering problems.

Works

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  • A Treatise on the Principles and Applications of Analytic Geometry (Classic Reprint)

    (The following treatise, designed as a text-book upon Anal...)

  • The Theory of the Flexure and Strength of Rectangular Flat Plates Applied to Reinforced Concrete Floor Slabs

    (Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)

  • New Constructions in Graphical Statics

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Thermodynamics

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Maximum Stresses Under Concentrated Loads, Treated Graphically

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Concrete-Steel Construction ...

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Theory of the Flexure and Strength of Rectangular Flat Plates Applied to Reinforced Concrete Floor Slabs: -1913

    (Originally published in 1913. This volume from the Cornel...)

Membership

As an undergraduate Henry T. Eddy was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

In addition, Eddy was a member of a church choir and of the chapel choir. In addition, he was a member of the Yale Glee Club and of the leading scientific and education societies of the country.

Personality

Henry T. Eddy was a man of quiet scholarly tastes and regularly worked late into the night over abstruse problems in mathematical physics. He had a splendid physique, was courtly in bearing, genial in his intercourse, firm in his convictions, and always an inspiration to his associates who constantly sought his counsel because of his wide, accurate knowledge and sound judgment.

He helped many young men in special courses outside the class room and for years was an indefatigable leader of a group of faculty members engaged in regular advanced study.

Connections

On January 4, 1870, Henry T. Eddy married Scbella Elizabeth Taylor of New Haven, Connecticut, who died September 3, 1921. They had one son and four daughters.

Father:

Henry Eddy

Mother:

Sarah Eddy (Torrey)

Wife:

Elizabeth Eddy (Taylor)