Amasa Holcomb
Encyclopedia
Amasa Holcomb was an American
farmer, surveyor, civil engineer
, businessman, and manufacturer of surveying instruments and telescope
s.
, Massachusetts
. There were no schools in his district, so he didn't have formal schooling, but gave himself an education. He studied books on geometry
, navigation
, optics
and astronomy
that were previously owned by his uncle Abijah, who was lost at sea. At fifteen years of age Holcomb became a tutor at a private school in Suffield, Connecticut
, teaching college preparatory courses to students older than himself.
Holcomb wrote his own almanac
in 1807 and 1808, when he was twenty-one years old, because he found Nehemiah Strong
's almanac was in need of much improvement. It did not predict the 1806 solar eclipse
that he viewed on January 4th of that year. Holcomb had made astronomical computations from the books he had on hand and predicted this eclipse himself. Holcomb observed the eclipse with instruments he had made himself.
Sometime around 1810 he decided to fabricate surveying instruments, selling chains, compass
es, and small transit telescopes. He also fabricated for sale magnet
s, electrical apparatus and leveling instruments. He was quite successful in the surveying trade, however left it in 1825 and went into civil engineering.
Holcomb fabricated the first telescopes manufactured in the United States. The first reflecting telescope
Holcomb made to order was for John A. Fulton
of Chillicothe, Ohio
, about 1826. It was fourteen feet long with a ten-inch (254 mm) aperture with six eye pieces with a magnification of from 90 to 960 times. He fabricated and manufactured telescopes in earnest soon thereafter, probably around 1828, which marked the first such manufacturing business in the United States. He enjoyed making telescopes and at the beginning of his manufacturing venture he never thought of it ever becoming a profitable business, just a labor of love.
The telescopes he made were in four sizes:
In 1830 Holcomb brought an achromatic telescope to Professor Benjamin Silliman
at Yale University
in New Haven. After inspection the professor ordered one for Yale University and published a notice of it in the American Journal of Science
. Around 1833 he began to get orders for his telescopes. Holcomb’s telescopes in 1834, 1835, and 1836 were inspected by a committee at the Franklin Institute
of Philadelphia and granted awards for their outstanding workmanship. On the committee to examine his telescopes were Robert M. Patterson
(director of the United States Mint), Alexander D. Bach (superintendent of the Coast survey), Dr Robert Hare
(chemist), Sears Cook Walker
, James Pollard Espy
, and Isiah T. Lukens. In 1834, he was awarded the John Scott award, presented by the City of Philadelphia, under the recommendation of the Franklin Institute.
Holcomb's 8.5 inch (0.2159 m) telescope fabricated in 1835 was the largest telescope in America in its day. Institutional customers of Holcomb’s were Brown University
, Delaware College, and Williston Academy. A telescope of Holcomb's went to the East Indies and one to the Hawaiian Islands
. Holcomb remained the only telescope maker in the United States until Henry Fitz
and Alvan Clark
began making refractor telescopes. Holcomb retired from telescope making in 1846.
in 1933. Until then they were in the attic of the family home in Southwick, Massachusetts.
s. In 1832 he was chosen to represent the town in the Legislature of Massachusetts
. In 1852 Holcomb was elected to the State senate.
He served three terms in the Massachusetts legislature, was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Hampden
for over 50 years, and had been a Methodist minister since 1831, preaching until he was 80 years old. Holcomb was also a trustee of Wesleyan University
. In 1837 he received from Williams College
the Honorary degree of A.M. Holcomb died when he was 87 years old in March 1875.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
farmer, surveyor, civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, businessman, and manufacturer of surveying instruments and telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s.
Early life
Holcomb grew up in SouthwickSouthwick, Massachusetts
Southwick is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,502 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. There were no schools in his district, so he didn't have formal schooling, but gave himself an education. He studied books on geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
, optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
that were previously owned by his uncle Abijah, who was lost at sea. At fifteen years of age Holcomb became a tutor at a private school in Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, teaching college preparatory courses to students older than himself.
Mid life
Holcomb went into the business of surveying land about 1808 since he was familiar with optics and associated equipment. For a while he also did private tutoring in the fields of surveying, optics, and astronomy. In the 1820s he manufactured many sets of surveyors' instruments. His buyers were his students as well as other civil engineers.Holcomb wrote his own almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
in 1807 and 1808, when he was twenty-one years old, because he found Nehemiah Strong
Nehemiah Strong
Rev. Nehemiah Strong was an American astronomer and meteorologist who was the first Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Yale College from 1770 and produced a series of annual ephemerides, the astronomical element in almanacs, which were printed in Hartford, Connecticut, and in New...
's almanac was in need of much improvement. It did not predict the 1806 solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
that he viewed on January 4th of that year. Holcomb had made astronomical computations from the books he had on hand and predicted this eclipse himself. Holcomb observed the eclipse with instruments he had made himself.
Sometime around 1810 he decided to fabricate surveying instruments, selling chains, compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
es, and small transit telescopes. He also fabricated for sale magnet
Magnet
A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.A permanent magnet is an object...
s, electrical apparatus and leveling instruments. He was quite successful in the surveying trade, however left it in 1825 and went into civil engineering.
Holcomb’s telescopes
Reflecting telescope
A reflecting telescope is an optical telescope which uses a single or combination of curved mirrors that reflect light and form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered from...
Holcomb made to order was for John A. Fulton
John A. Fulton
John A. Fulton was a prominent local citizen of Chillicothe, Ohio. He was twice mayor in 1828-29 and 1831-32.Fulton was a civil engineer and surveyor by education and trade. He did much of the original survey work in Ross County and surrounding counties...
of Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
, about 1826. It was fourteen feet long with a ten-inch (254 mm) aperture with six eye pieces with a magnification of from 90 to 960 times. He fabricated and manufactured telescopes in earnest soon thereafter, probably around 1828, which marked the first such manufacturing business in the United States. He enjoyed making telescopes and at the beginning of his manufacturing venture he never thought of it ever becoming a profitable business, just a labor of love.
The telescopes he made were in four sizes:
- fourteen feet long with a ten-inch (254 mm) aperture
- ten feet long with an eight-inch (203 mm) aperture
- seven and a half feet long with a six-inch (152 mm) aperture
- five feet long with a four-inch (102 mm) aperture
In 1830 Holcomb brought an achromatic telescope to Professor Benjamin Silliman
Benjamin Silliman
Benjamin Silliman was an American chemist, one of the first American professors of science , and the first to distill petroleum.-Early life:...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven. After inspection the professor ordered one for Yale University and published a notice of it in the American Journal of Science
American Journal of Science
The American Journal of Science is the United States of America's longest-running scientific journal, having been published continuously since its conception in 1818 by Professor Benjamin Silliman, who edited and financed it himself...
. Around 1833 he began to get orders for his telescopes. Holcomb’s telescopes in 1834, 1835, and 1836 were inspected by a committee at the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
of Philadelphia and granted awards for their outstanding workmanship. On the committee to examine his telescopes were Robert M. Patterson
Robert M. Patterson
Robert Maskell Patterson was a professor of mathematics, chemistry and natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania and professor of natural philosophy at the University of Virginia before serving as director of the US Mint from 1835 to 1851...
(director of the United States Mint), Alexander D. Bach (superintendent of the Coast survey), Dr Robert Hare
Robert Hare (chemist)
Robert Hare was an early American chemist.Hare was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 17, 1781. He developed and experimented with the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe, with Edward Daniel Clarke of Oxford, shortly after 1800. He married Harriett Clark and had six children...
(chemist), Sears Cook Walker
Sears Cook Walker
Sears Cook Walker was an American astronomer.Born at Wilmington, Massachusetts son of Benjamin Walker and Susanna Cook, he graduated from Harvard University in 1825, he was a teacher till 1835, was an actuary in 1835-1845 for the Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities,...
, James Pollard Espy
James Pollard Espy
For the fictional character, see The Magicians of Xanth.James Pollard Espy was a U.S. meteorologist. Espy developed a convection theory of storms, explaining it in 1836 before the American Philosophical Society and in 1840 before the French Académie des Sciences and the British Royal Society...
, and Isiah T. Lukens. In 1834, he was awarded the John Scott award, presented by the City of Philadelphia, under the recommendation of the Franklin Institute.
Holcomb's 8.5 inch (0.2159 m) telescope fabricated in 1835 was the largest telescope in America in its day. Institutional customers of Holcomb’s were Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Delaware College, and Williston Academy. A telescope of Holcomb's went to the East Indies and one to the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. Holcomb remained the only telescope maker in the United States until Henry Fitz
Henry Fitz
-Early life:Fitz was born in 1808 in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The family moved to Albany, New York, some eleven years later and to New York City later on. Fitz as a boy was already very interested in science and mechanics. He initially learned the printing trade from his father. They printed the...
and Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark , born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the descendant of a Cape Cod whaling family of English ancestry, was an American astronomer and telescope maker. He was a portrait painter and engraver , and at the age of 40 became involved in telescope making...
began making refractor telescopes. Holcomb retired from telescope making in 1846.
Smithsonian
Two telescopes manufactured by Holcomb were donated by Holcomb's descendants to the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in 1933. Until then they were in the attic of the family home in Southwick, Massachusetts.
- Herschelian reflector, 8.5 inches (215.9 mm) aperture, 9 in 4 in (2.84 m) in length, shown at the Franklin Institute in 1835, USNM 310598.
- Transit telescope, 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) refractor, 21 inches in length, mounted on a 14 inches (355.6 mm) cross tube with graduated circle, but lacking the base, USNM 310599.
Other aspects of his life
In 1816 Holcomb was chosen a "father" in his town he lived in. He held a city office position there during four successive years and occasionally by subsequent electionElection
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s. In 1832 he was chosen to represent the town in the Legislature of Massachusetts
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
. In 1852 Holcomb was elected to the State senate.
He served three terms in the Massachusetts legislature, was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
for over 50 years, and had been a Methodist minister since 1831, preaching until he was 80 years old. Holcomb was also a trustee of Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
. In 1837 he received from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
the Honorary degree of A.M. Holcomb died when he was 87 years old in March 1875.
Primary sources
- Holcomb, Amasa. Autobiography written in 1867 when he was 80 years old.
- Holcomb, Amasa. (Almanac for 1807.) Kept at Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript LibraryBeinecke Rare Book and Manuscript LibraryYale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library was a 1963 gift of the Beinecke family. The building was designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft of the firm of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, and is the largest building in the world reserved exclusively for the preservation of rare books...
, Yale University. - Holcomb, Amasa. Handwritten text, believed to be autobiographical, unsigned and undated; kept at the Smithsonian Institution. (Reprinted in Holcomb, Fitz, and Peate)
- Holcomb, Amasa. Manuscript notebook kept by Holcomb between 1834 and 1841, on meteorology and astronomy. The Smithsonian Institution, U.S. National Museum catalog 310600.
- Holcomb, Fitz, and Peate: Three 19th Century American Telescope Makers. Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology. United States National Museum Bulletin 228. Washington, D.C., 1962. Introduction, Robert Multhauf.
- "Report on Amasa Holcomb's Reflecting Telescope," Journal of the Franklin Institute, July 1834, new series vol. 14 (whole no. 18), pp. 169-172. (Reprinted in Holcomb, Fitz, and Peate)
- "Report on Holcomb's Reflecting Telescopes," Journal of the Franklin Institute, July 1835, new series vol. 16 (whole no. 20), pp. 11-13. (Reprinted in Holcomb, Fitz, and Peate)
- "Report on Holcomb's Telescope," Journal of the Franklin Institute, August 1836, new ser. vol. 18, whole no. 22, p110)
- "Report on Holcomb's Telescope", American Journal of Science and Arts, various issues, between 1833 and 1836.
Secondary sources
- Davis, Maud Etta Gillett. Historical Facts and Stories About Southwick. July, 1951. Unpublished manuscript kept at Southwick Public Library. (Davis, great grand daughter of Holcomb.)
- Der Bagdasarian, Nicholas. "Amasa Holcomb: Yankee Telescope Maker." Sky & Telescope, June, 1986, p620-622.
- Loomis, Elias, The Recent Progress of Astronomy, Especially the United States, Harper & Brothers, 1856