Simon Newcomb

Simon Newcomb was one of the great scientists of the 19th century. He was a giant in the field of celestial mechanics, and his work on the orbital motion of the planets of the Solar System was the cornerstone of the nautical and astronomical almanacs of the United States and Great Britain until as recently as 1984.

Albert Einstein acknowledged the importance of Newcomb's work in the development of his own theory of relativity.

Newcomb was also a fascinating individual, almost entirely self-taught in mathematics and astronomy, who rose to the very top of the astronomical community in the United States in the latter years of the 19th century.

His story is related in his autobiography, Reminiscences of an Astronomer, published in 1903 and now sadly out of print. It reveals Newcomb as a man of great humility combined with an impish sense of humour. I have loved this book ever since I first chanced to find a copy hidden in a dusty corner of the library of the University of Liverpool. Here are some excerpts:

Reminiscences of a Astronomer

On seeking a wife: My father was the most rational and the most dispassionate of men. His method of seeking a wife was so far unique that it may not be devoid of interest ...