John Le Conte
Encyclopedia
United States
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scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and academic. He served as President of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Biography
Le Conte was born in Liberty CountyLiberty County, Georgia
Liberty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 61,610. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 60,503...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to Louis Le Conte, patriarch of the noted Le Conte family. He attended Franklin College
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the founding college of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States. The college was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.-History:...
at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
Phi Kappa Literary Society
The Phi Kappa Literary Society is a college literary society, located at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.The Society was founded in 1820 by Joseph Henry Lumpkin, later to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and eponym for the , and by William Crabbe, Edwin...
and graduated in 1838. His younger brother Joseph Le Conte also attended the University.
Like many of his immediate relatives, John Le Conte next studied medicine at the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons and earned his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1842. During this time, Le Conte married Catherine Graham. He practiced medicine until 1846 when he returned to UGA as professor of physics and chemistry and taught there until his resignation in 1855. His next academic position was at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
as professor of physics and chemistry from 1856 until 1869.
In March 1869, he moved to Oakland, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to join the faculty of the newly-established University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
as a professor of physics. http://books.google.com/books?id=lt4KAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=john+le+conte+university+of+california&source=web&ots=R1fKaonZpH&sig=Fdmk1l7OwN6mVmZoR6YLRHt-CWg#PPA116,M1 In June 1869, he was appointed Acting President of the University, serving until Henry Durant
Henry Durant
Henry Durant was the founding president of the University of California.-Biography:Graduate of Yale College...
was appointed President in 1870. In September 1869, his brother Joseph Le Conte arrived in California to join the faculty of the University as a professor of geology.
Upon the resignation of President Gilman in March, 1875, LeConte was appointed acting president a second time until June, 1876, when he was elected President. On June 7, 1881, LeConte tendered his resignation as President of the University, asking to be returned to his faculty position.
LeConte died at his home in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
on April 29, 1891, while still active as a professor of physics.
Contributions to physics
- demonstrated that flames are sensitive to sound (1858)
- measured the speed of sound (1864)
- studied underwater vibrations (1882)