Henry George Madan
Encyclopedia
Henry George Madan was
an English chemist, teacher and academic.
He was born in Cam Vicarage, Gloucestershire
, England, the
eldest child of George Madan. After an education at Marlborough College
, he earned an open exhibition at Corpus Christi College, Oxford
. He earned a B.A. in 1860, became a fellow of the Queens College, Oxford in 1861 and was awarded an M.A. in 1864. He became the science master at Eton College
, where he served for twenty years. He was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society and published several works on chemistry and physics. In 1887, he co-published Exercises in practical chemistry with A. G. V. Harcourt
, which became a standard textbook for many years thereafter.
In 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall
discovered two satellites orbiting the planet Mars
. Various names were proposed, but Asaph chose the suggestion of Henry Madan, who proposed the names Deimus (later Deimos
) and Phobus (later Phobos
). (These names are found in the Fifteenth Book, line 199 of Homer's Iliad
.) Henry was the brother of Falconer Madan
(1851–1935), the librarian of the Bodleian Library
of the University of Oxford
. Falconer's granddaughter, Venetia Burney (1918–2009), holds the distinction of being the first person to suggest the name Pluto for the dwarf planet
, discovered in 1930.
In 1901, Henry George Madan was injured by a railway truck and needed his arm amputated. His health never recovered and he died several months later.
an English chemist, teacher and academic.
He was born in Cam Vicarage, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England, the
eldest child of George Madan. After an education at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, he earned an open exhibition at Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
. He earned a B.A. in 1860, became a fellow of the Queens College, Oxford in 1861 and was awarded an M.A. in 1864. He became the science master at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he served for twenty years. He was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society and published several works on chemistry and physics. In 1887, he co-published Exercises in practical chemistry with A. G. V. Harcourt
Augustus George Vernon Harcourt
Augustus George Vernon Harcourt FRS was an English chemist who spent his career at Oxford University. He was one of the first scientists to do quantitative work in the field of chemical kinetics...
, which became a standard textbook for many years thereafter.
In 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall
Asaph Hall
Asaph Hall III was an American astronomer who is most famous for having discovered the moons of Mars in 1877...
discovered two satellites orbiting the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. Various names were proposed, but Asaph chose the suggestion of Henry Madan, who proposed the names Deimus (later Deimos
Deimos (moon)
Deimos is the smaller and outer of Mars's two moons . It is named after Deimos, a figure representing dread in Greek Mythology. Its systematic designation is '.-Discovery:Deimos was discovered by Asaph Hall, Sr...
) and Phobus (later Phobos
Phobos (moon)
Phobos is the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. With a mean radius of , Phobos is 7.24 times as massive as Deimos...
). (These names are found in the Fifteenth Book, line 199 of Homer's Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
.) Henry was the brother of Falconer Madan
Falconer Madan
Falconer Madan was Librarian of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University.Falconer was the fifth son of George and Harriet Madan. He was educated at Marlborough College and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University...
(1851–1935), the librarian of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Falconer's granddaughter, Venetia Burney (1918–2009), holds the distinction of being the first person to suggest the name Pluto for the dwarf planet
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be spherical as a result of its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite...
, discovered in 1930.
In 1901, Henry George Madan was injured by a railway truck and needed his arm amputated. His health never recovered and he died several months later.