Alexander, Stephen, 1806-1883

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Stephen Alexander was an astronomer, mathematician, author, and educator, under whose influence astronomy first developed as a separate discipline at Princeton University. He graduated with honors from Union College at the age of eighteen.

A cousin and also a brother-in-law of Joseph Henry, he collaborated with Henry in his scientific investigations at Albany Academy and accompanied him to Princeton in 1832, when Henry became professor of natural philosophy. Appointed tutor in mathematics in 1833 and professor of astronomy in 1840, Alexander's association with Princeton continued for fifty years. Alexander gave Princeton's first discrete course in astronomy. The College's first astronomy building, the Halsted Observatory, which stood on University Place from 1869 to 1932, was built through his influence and from his plans; however, a telescope was not installed until after his retirement. Working with only his own small telescope, he carried on a steady program of research, published many papers, and studied comets, including the great comet of 1843, whose sudden appearance excited American interest in astronomy. He also studied the atmospheres of Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter, led expeditions for the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the National Academy of Sciences to observe solar eclipses, and in collaboration with Henry, conducted experiments on the relative heat of sunspots. He was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1859 and was chosen as one of the original fifty members of the National Academy of Sciences in 1862.

From the description of Stephen Alexander Papers 1827-1882 (Peking University Library). WorldCat record id: 61275326

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lecture Notes Collection, 1772-1990 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections.Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Princeton University Archives.
referencedIn Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Lecture Notes Collection, 1792-1976. Princeton University Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIe. 1845-1865. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn John Fries Frazer papers, 1834-1871, 1834-1871 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Alexander, Stephen, 1806-1883. Letters, 1862-1863. Historical Society of Princeton
creatorOf Alexander, Stephen, 1806-1883. Stephen Alexander letter, 1837, Jun. 9, Princeton, to "My dear Sir." Duke University, Medical Center Library & Archives
referencedIn Princeton Scientific Expeditions Collection, 1834-1995, 1834-1930 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections.Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Princeton University Archives.
referencedIn Notes of Lectures on Natural Philosophy, 1857-1858 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IId, 1837-1844 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Ihrie, William M. (William Muirhead), d. 1899. Papers, 1854-1861 (inclusive). Rutgers University
creatorOf Stephen Alexander letter to the editors of the New York Tribune, 1873 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Alexander, Stephen, 1806-1883. Letter, 1858 Mar. 20. Historical Society of Princeton
creatorOf Alexander, Stephen, 1806-1883. Collection 1827-1882 Princeton University Library
referencedIn Gibbes, Lewis Reeves, 1810-1894. Papers, 1793-1894 (bulk 1838-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn LeConte, John L. (John Lawrence), 1825-1883. Papers, 1812-1897 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Goodfellow, Edward, 1828-1899. Journal, 1860. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Autograph File, A, 1518-2002. Houghton Library
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correspondedWith Babbage, Charles, 1791-1871 person
correspondedWith Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867 person
correspondedWith Baily, Francis, 1774-1844 person
correspondedWith Baird, Spencer F. person
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associatedWith Wurts, John Howard, 1838-1862 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
New Jersey
New Jersey--Princeton
United States
Paris (France)
Vienna (Austria)
Subject
Astronomers
Astronomers
Astronomy
Astronomy
Eclipses
Scientists
Scientists
Occupation
Astronomers
Astronomers
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Person

Birth 1806-09-01

Death 1883-06-25

Male

Americans

English

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