John Monroe Van Vleck
Encyclopedia
John Monroe Van Vleck was an American
mathematician and astronomer.
He taught astronomy and mathematics at Wesleyan University
in Middletown, Connecticut
for more than 50 years (1853-1912), and served as acting university president twice. The Van Vleck Observatory
(at Wesleyan University) and the crater Van Vleck
on the Moon
are named after him.
; he was the son of Peter Van Vleck and Ann Hasbrouck.John Monroe Van Vleck, Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven He graduated from Wesleyan University
in 1850, and began teaching at Greenwich Academy
. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Northwestern University
in 1876. From 1851-53 he had been an assistant at the Nautical Almanac Office
. He was married to Ellen Maria Burr on May 2, 1854.
He taught astronomy and mathematics at Wesleyan University
in Middletown, Connecticut
for more than 50 years, serving as adjunct professor of Mathematics 1853-57, professor of Mathematics and Astronomy 1858-1904, and professor emeritus 1904-12. He served as the acting president for the university on two occasions, 1872-73 and 1887-89, the vice president 1890-93.
In 1904 he was vice-president of the American Mathematical Society.
In 1869 he was a member of the Solar Eclipse Expedition to Mount Pleasant, Iowa
. He was a fellow of the A.A.A.S.
His publications include "Tables giving the Positions of the Moon for 1855-'6" and for 1878-91, and similar "Tables giving the Positions of Saturn for 1857 to 1877" contributed to the "American Nautical Almanac".
The Van Vleck Observatory
at Wesleyan University was named after him, as was the crater Van Vleck
on the Moon
.
His wife died December 26, 1899, but he lived an additional 12 years. J. M. van Vleck was survived by a son and three daughters, Anna, Clara, Edward Burr, and Jane.Family Database, Die Maus
Their son, Edward Burr Van Vleck
, was a leading mathematician in the United States.
Edward taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, where he became professor emeritus in 1926.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mathematician and astronomer.
He taught astronomy and mathematics at 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 Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
for more than 50 years (1853-1912), and served as acting university president twice. The Van Vleck Observatory
Van Vleck Observatory
Van Vleck Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Wesleyan University. It was built in 1914 and named after the former head of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at the university, Prof. John M. Van Vleck. It is located in Middletown, Connecticut .-Directors:*...
(at Wesleyan University) and the crater Van Vleck
Van Vleck (crater)
Van Vleck is a lunar impact crater that is located near the northeastern rim of the walled plain Gilbert, to the west of the Mare Smythii. The similar crater Weierstrass is nearly joined to the northwestern rim of Van Vleck...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
are named after him.
Life and work
John Monroe Van Vleck was born on March 4, 1833, in Stone Ridge, New YorkStone Ridge, New York
Stone Ridge is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,173 at the 2000 census.Stone Ridge is located in the Town of Marbletown, along US 209 where it overlaps NY 213.-Geography:...
; he was the son of Peter Van Vleck and Ann Hasbrouck.John Monroe Van Vleck, Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven He graduated from 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 1850, and began teaching at Greenwich Academy
Greenwich Academy
Greenwich Academy is an independent, all-girls preparatory day school in Greenwich, Connecticut. Founded in 1827, it is the oldest girls' school in Connecticut. Greenwich Academy's motto is Ad ingenium faciendum, "Toward the Building of Character."...
. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1876. From 1851-53 he had been an assistant at the Nautical Almanac Office
Nautical Almanac Office
Nautical Almanac Office can refer to:* HM Nautical Almanac Office in the United Kingdom* The Nautical Almanac Office at the United States Naval Observatory...
. He was married to Ellen Maria Burr on May 2, 1854.
He taught astronomy and mathematics at 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 Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
for more than 50 years, serving as adjunct professor of Mathematics 1853-57, professor of Mathematics and Astronomy 1858-1904, and professor emeritus 1904-12. He served as the acting president for the university on two occasions, 1872-73 and 1887-89, the vice president 1890-93.
In 1904 he was vice-president of the American Mathematical Society.
In 1869 he was a member of the Solar Eclipse Expedition to Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :...
. He was a fellow of the A.A.A.S.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
His publications include "Tables giving the Positions of the Moon for 1855-'6" and for 1878-91, and similar "Tables giving the Positions of Saturn for 1857 to 1877" contributed to the "American Nautical Almanac".
The Van Vleck Observatory
Van Vleck Observatory
Van Vleck Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Wesleyan University. It was built in 1914 and named after the former head of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at the university, Prof. John M. Van Vleck. It is located in Middletown, Connecticut .-Directors:*...
at Wesleyan University was named after him, as was the crater Van Vleck
Van Vleck (crater)
Van Vleck is a lunar impact crater that is located near the northeastern rim of the walled plain Gilbert, to the west of the Mare Smythii. The similar crater Weierstrass is nearly joined to the northwestern rim of Van Vleck...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
.
His wife died December 26, 1899, but he lived an additional 12 years. J. M. van Vleck was survived by a son and three daughters, Anna, Clara, Edward Burr, and Jane.Family Database, Die Maus
Their son, Edward Burr Van Vleck
Edward Burr Van Vleck
Edward Burr Van Vleck was an American mathematician.The son of astronomer John Monroe Van Vleck, he graduated from Wesleyan University in 1884, attended Johns Hopkins in 1885-87, and studied at Göttingen...
, was a leading mathematician in the United States.
Edward taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, where he became professor emeritus in 1926.