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John Monroe Van Vleck (March 4, 1833 – November 4, 1912) was an American mathematician and astronomer.
He taught astronomy and mathematics at 
Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven His maternal grandparents were Joseph Hasbrouck (1754-1831) and Margaret Hoornbeck Hasbrouck (1768-1831). He graduated from
WU-Fac
: states "Prof., 1885-1904" but should be "1858" not 1885. "John Monroe Van Vleck", Virtualology (from Appletons Encyclopedia), 2001, webpage: www.famousamericans.net/johnmonroevanvleck/ - states "since 1858 has held chair of mathematics & astronomy". In 1904 he was vice-president of the American Mathematical Society. He was a member of the
Die Maus *Anna Van Vleck *Clara Van Vleck *
WU-Fac
states "Prof., 1885-1904" but should be "1858" not 1885. * "John Monroe Van Vleck", Virtualology (from Appletons Encyclopedia), 2001, webpage: www.famousamericans.net/johnmonroevanvleck. {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Vleck, John Monroe 1833 births 1912 deaths People from Ulster County, New York Wesleyan University faculty American mathematicians American astronomers Wesleyan University alumni American people of Dutch descent American people of German descent Mathematicians from New York (state)
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church and with the support of prominent residents of Middletown, the col ...
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
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...
are named after him.
Early life
John Monroe Van Vleck was born on March 4, 1833, in Stone Ridge, New York; he was the son of Peter Van Vleck (1806-1872) and Ann Hasbrouck (1803-1854).John Monroe Van VleckDescendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven His maternal grandparents were Joseph Hasbrouck (1754-1831) and Margaret Hoornbeck Hasbrouck (1768-1831). He graduated from
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church and with the support of prominent residents of Middletown, the col ...
in 1850, and began teaching at Greenwich Academy
Greenwich Academy is an independent, college-preparatory day school for girls 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 o ...
. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
in 1876. From 1851-53 he had been an assistant at the Nautical Almanac Office.
Career
He taught astronomy and mathematics atWesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church and with the support of prominent residents of Middletown, the col ...
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.
"THE SCIENCE FACULTY 1831-1861: Department of Astronomy",
Wesleyan University, 2007-12-03, webpage:
WU-Fac
: states "Prof., 1885-1904" but should be "1858" not 1885. "John Monroe Van Vleck", Virtualology (from Appletons Encyclopedia), 2001, webpage: www.famousamericans.net/johnmonroevanvleck/ - states "since 1858 has held chair of mathematics & astronomy". In 1904 he was vice-president of the American Mathematical Society. He was a member of the
Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences is a learned society founded in 1799 in New Haven, Connecticut "to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest and happiness of a free and virtuous people." Its purpose is the ...
.
In 1869 he was a member of the Solar Eclipse Expedition to Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa. The population was 9,274 in the 2020 census, an increase from 8,668 in the 2010 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.
History
The first permanent s ...
. 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".
Honors
The Van Vleck Observatory at Wesleyan University was named after him, as was the crater Van Vleck on theMoon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...
.
Personal life
He was married to Ellen Maria Burr on May 2, 1854. 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:Family DatabaseDie Maus *Anna Van Vleck *Clara Van Vleck *
Edward Burr Van Vleck
Edward Burr Van Vleck (June 7, 1863, Middletown, Connecticut – June 3, 1943, Madison, Wisconsin) was an American mathematician.
Early life
Van Vleck was born June 7, 1863, Middletown, Connecticut. He was the son of astronomer John Monroe ...
(1863-1943), a leading mathematician in the United States.
Edward taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
, where he became professor emeritus in 1926.
*Jane Van Vleck
See also
*John Hasbrouck van Vleck
John Hasbrouck Van Vleck (March 13, 1899 – October 27, 1980) was an American physicist and mathematician. He was co-awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1977, for his contributions to the understanding of the behavior of electronic magnetism ...
- grandson of John Monroe Van Vleck
Notes
References
* "THE SCIENCE FACULTY 1831-1861: Department of Astronomy", Wesleyan University, 2007-12-03, webpageWU-Fac
states "Prof., 1885-1904" but should be "1858" not 1885. * "John Monroe Van Vleck", Virtualology (from Appletons Encyclopedia), 2001, webpage: www.famousamericans.net/johnmonroevanvleck. {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Vleck, John Monroe 1833 births 1912 deaths People from Ulster County, New York Wesleyan University faculty American mathematicians American astronomers Wesleyan University alumni American people of Dutch descent American people of German descent Mathematicians from New York (state)