John Fillmore Hayford

Background

John Fillmore Hayford was born on May 19, 1868, on a farm at Rouse Point, New York, United States, the son of Hiram Hayford and Mildred Alevia (Fillmore) Hayford.

Education

John received his early education in the local public schools and in 1885 entered Cornell University, graduating with the degree of C. E. in 1889.

Career

Upon graduation John Hayford entered the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C. , serving in various capacities both in the office and in the field until 1895, when he resigned to become instructor in civil engineering at Cornell. After three years at Cornell, Hayford returned to the Coast and Geodetic Survey as expert computer and geodesist, and in 1900 he was placed in charge of the geodetic work. Here his engineering abilities found wide scope in the improvement of geodetic instruments and in the standardization of geodetic field practice. He was responsible for the adoption of the United States Standard Datum for the triangulation of this country. Later this datum was also adopted by Canada and Mexico, and it then became known as the North American Datum.

In connection with his geodetic studies it occurred to Hayford that the theory of isostasy could be applied to the problems of geodesy with advantage. In pursuance of this idea he carried out extensive investigations summarized in his Figure of the Earth and Isostasy from Measurements in the United States (1909) and in Supplementary Investigation in 1909 of the Figure of the Earth and Isostasy (1910). These investigations brought forth two notable results: the existence of isostasy was proved conclusively; and by the application of isostasy to the determination of the figure of the earth, values were derived which were adopted in 1924 by the International Geodetic and Geophysical Union as best serving both practical and scientific purposes.

Hayford was also a research associate of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. For the latter institution he carried out an investigation of the laws of evaporation and stream flow, the results of which were published in Effects of Winds and of Barometric Pressures on the Great Lakes (1922). In addition to various monographs and reports dealing with geodesy and isostasy, he published also numerous articles in technical and scientific journals dealing with engineering and geodetic matters.

Achievements

• John Hayford is best known in connection with the establishment on a sound basis of the theory of isostasy, and it was in recognition of his work in that field that the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain conferred upon him its Victoria Medal in 1924. He also constructed a reference ellipsoid for approximating the figure of the Earth. The crater Hayford on the far side of the Moon is named after him.

Works

More photos

• book

  • A Text-Book of Geodetic Astronomy (Classic Reprint)

    (The accuracy of a mans thoughts, as well as of his speech...)

  • A Connection By Precise Leveling Between The Atlantic And Pacific Oceans FACSIMILE

    (HIGH QUALITY FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION: Hayford, John Fillmo...)

  • The Adjustment of Observations, by the Method of Least Squares with Applications to Geodetic Work

    (Leopold is delighted to publish this classic book as part...)

  • Effects of Winds and of Barometric Pressures on the Great Lakes,

Membership

Hayford was a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Connections

In 1894 Hayford married Lucy Stone of Charlotte, New York.

Father:

Hiram Hayford

Mother:

Mildred Alevia (Fillmore) Hayford

Spouse:

Lucy (Stone) Hayford