Background
Thurston, Robert Henry was born on October 25, 1839 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Son of Robert L. and Harriet (Taylor) Thurston.
Thurston, Robert Henry was born on October 25, 1839 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Son of Robert L. and Harriet (Taylor) Thurston.
Graduate Brown University, Civil Engineer and Bachelor of Philosophy, 1859, Master of Arts, 1869. Doctor of Laws, 1889. Doctor Engineering, Stevens Institute Technology, 1885.
Trained in his father’s shops until 1861.
In United States Navy, 1861-1872, assistant engineer and engineer in charge of vessels. At United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, acting assistant professor natural philosophy, 1865-1871.
Professor mechanic engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1871-1885. Director Sibley College, Cornell Univercity and professor mechanic engineering, since 1885.
First president (two terms, 1880-1883) American Society Mechanics Engineers; 3 times vice president American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1877-1878 and 1884. Vice president American Institute Mining Engineers, 1878-1879.
Inventor of testing machines, engine governors and other devices.
United States commissioner to Vienna Exposition, 1873, Paris, 1889. Served on many United States and State commissions Author: Friction and Lubrication.
Materials of Engineering, 3 volumes, 1884. Manual of the Steam-Engine, 2 volumes, 1890, 1901.
Materials of Construction, 1884.
Stationary Steam Engines, 1885. Friction and Lost Work in Machinery and Mill Work, 1885. Manual of the Steam Boiler, 1888.
Handbook of Engine and Boiler Trials, 1889.
Motive Power of Heat (from French of Carnot), 1890. Heat as a Form of Energy, 1890.
Life of Robert Fulton, 1891. History of the Steam Engine, 1878, 1901.
Also about 300 professional and scientific papers.
Is an editor of Science and of Johnson’s and Appleton’s Cyclopædias. Address: Ithaca, New New York
Married Susan Taylor Gladding, October 1865 (died 1878). Married second, Leonora Boughton, August 4, 1880.