William Charles Redfield
Encyclopedia
William Charles Redfield (March 26, 1789 Middletown, Connecticut
- February 12, 1857 New York City
) was one of the founders and the first President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
formed in 1848.
William Charles Redfield is known in meteorology
for his observation of the directionality of winds in hurricanes (being among the first to propose that hurricanes are large circular vortexes, though John Farrar
had made similar observations six years earlier), though his interests were varied and influential.
Redfield organized and was a member of the first expedition to Mount Marcy
in 1837; he was the first to guess that Marcy was the highest peak in the Adirondacks, and therefore in New York. Mount Redfield
was named in his honor by Verplanck Colvin
.
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...
- February 12, 1857 New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) was one of the founders and the first President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
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...
formed in 1848.
William Charles Redfield is known in meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
for his observation of the directionality of winds in hurricanes (being among the first to propose that hurricanes are large circular vortexes, though John Farrar
John Farrar (scientist)
John Farrar was an American scholar. He first coined the concept of hurricanes as “a moving vortex and not the rushing forward of a great body of the atmosphere”, after the Great September Gale of 1815. Farrar remained Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Harvard University between...
had made similar observations six years earlier), though his interests were varied and influential.
Redfield organized and was a member of the first expedition to Mount Marcy
Mount Marcy
Mount Marcy is the highest point in New York State, with an elevation of . It is a popular destination for hikers due to its stature and great views, and the peak can get very crowded in the summer months...
in 1837; he was the first to guess that Marcy was the highest peak in the Adirondacks, and therefore in New York. Mount Redfield
Mount Redfield
Mount Redfield is a mountain located in Essex County, New York.The mountain is part of the Marcy Group of the Great Range of the Adirondack Mountains.Mount Redfield is flanked to the northwest by Cliff Mountain, and to the northeast by Mount Skylight....
was named in his honor by Verplanck Colvin
Verplanck Colvin
Verplanck Colvin was a lawyer, author, illustrator and topographical engineer whose understanding and appreciation for the environment of the Adirondack Mountains led to the creation of New York's Forest Preserve and the Adirondack Park....
.
External links
- Genealogy of the Redfield family, much of which he researched and published originally