Watson, James C. (James Craig), 1838-1880

Variant names

Hide Profile

Professor of astronomy and director of the Observatory at University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin.

From the description of James Craig Watson papers, 1857-1881. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34420391

James Craig Watson (January 28, 1838-November 22, 1880) was a Canadian-American astronomer born in the village of Fingal, Ontario Canada. His family relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1850. In 1857, Watson graduated from the University of Michigan where he had studied the classics, mathematics, and the principles of theoretical and practical astronomy taught by professor Franz Brünnow. After graduation, Watson worked as Brünnow's assistant, and when his mentor resigned in 1859, Watson was made professor of astronomy in charge of the Observatory. Brünnow returned in 1860, resigned again in 1863, and at this time, Watson assumed the position as second director of Detroit Observatory serving until 1879.

Watson contributed to various astronomical journals and was the author of Popular Treatise on Comets (1861) and Theoretical Astronomy (1868). Watson, in addition, made good use of the Observatory telescope. He was the discover of 22 asteroids, beginning with 79 Eurynome in 1863. One of his asteroid discoveries, 139 Juewa was made in Beijing when Watson was there to observe the 1874 transit of Venus.

Watson was a strong believer in the existence of the planet Vulcan, a hypothetical planet closer to the Sun than Mercury, which is now known not to exist (however the existence of small Vulcanoid planetoids remains a possibility). He believed he had seen two such planets during a July 1878 solar eclipse in Wyoming.

In 1879, Watson resigned his position at the University of Michigan to become director of the Washburn Observatory of the University of Wisconsin. He died November 22, 1880.

From the guide to the James Craig Watson papers, 1855-1881, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn George Washington Hough (1836-1909) Papers, 1855-1909 Northwestern University Archives
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Coast Guard. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Samuel Wells Williams family papers, 1809-1983, 1809-1941 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918. Andrew Dickson White papers, 1857-1867. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Washburn Observatory. Records, 1880-1947. American Institute of Physics
referencedIn Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives Cambridge University Library
referencedIn University Of California At Santa Cruz, Library, Lick Observatory Archives. [Contact repository for more information].
referencedIn Allmendinger, George Franklin, 1855-1926. George Franklin Allmendinger student notebook, ca. 1876. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Watson, James C. (James Craig), 1838-1880. James Craig Watson papers, 1857-1881. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn University Of California At Santa Cruz, Library, Lick Observatory Archives. Bond Letters.
referencedIn University of Michigan Faculty and Staff Portraits, ca. 1860-ca. 1960 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Brünnow, F. (Franz), 1821-1891. Letter, 1869 July 28, Jena, to [E.P.] Evans [Ann Arbor?]. University of Michigan
creatorOf Walker, Edward Carey, 1820-1894. Edward Carey Walker correspondence, 1841 and 1863-1881. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. William Jones Rhees Collection.
referencedIn Cleveland Abbe Papers, 1850-1954, (bulk 1850-1916) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Andrew Dickson White papers [microform], 1857-1867 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf James Craig Watson papers, 1855-1881 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn National Academy Of Sciences, Archives. Deceased Members.
referencedIn Williams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells), 1812-1884. Samuel Wells Williams family papers, 1824-1936 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Alexander Winchell Papers, 1833-1891 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Williams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells), 1812-1884. Samuel Wells Williams family papers, 1809-1983 (inclusive), 1809-1941 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn University Of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. J. C. Watson Papers.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Abbe, Cleveland, 1838-1916. person
associatedWith Agricultural Society Of Detroit corporateBody
associatedWith Allmendinger, George Franklin, 1855-1926. person
correspondedWith Baird, Spencer F. person
associatedWith Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922. person
associatedWith Brünnow, F. (Franz), 1821-1891. person
correspondedWith Burroughs, John L. person
associatedWith Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Chase, A. W. (Alvin Wood), 1817-1885. person
associatedWith Davis, Henry person
associatedWith Detroit Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Flugel, Felix person
associatedWith Gray, Elisha, 1835-1901. person
associatedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878. person
correspondedWith Hough, G. W. (George Washington), 1836-1909 person
associatedWith Khedive Of Egypt corporateBody
correspondedWith Leconte, John Lawrence person
correspondedWith Lefroy, J. H. person
associatedWith Lick Observatory corporateBody
correspondedWith Meade, William B., Sr. person
associatedWith Michigan Historical Collections corporateBody
correspondedWith Peters, Christian H. F. (Prof.) person
correspondedWith Ritter, W. F. M. person
associatedWith Robeson, George Maxwell person
correspondedWith Smithsonian Institution corporateBody
correspondedWith Torrey, John person
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Astronomy Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of Astronomy. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Upjohn, William E. person
associatedWith Upjohn, William Erastus. person
associatedWith Vaughan, Victor C. (Victor Clarence), 1851-1929. person
associatedWith Walker, Edward Carey, 1820-1894. person
associatedWith Washburn Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Watson, Annette Waite. person
associatedWith Watson, Annette Waite. person
associatedWith White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918. person
associatedWith Williams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells), 1812-1884. person
associatedWith Winchell, Alexander, 1824-1891 person
associatedWith World Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Egypt
China
China
Egypt
Subject
Travel
Acoustics
Astronomy
Astronomy
Light House Board
Natural history
Photography
Piano
Recommendations For Positions
Scientific organizations
Scientific publications
Smithsonian Exchange
Smithsonian Publications
Telephone
Voyages and travels
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1838

Death 1880

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64n28wb

Ark ID: w64n28wb

SNAC ID: 15350007