Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/36

 LOOMIS

LOOMIS

Western Reserve college in Europe and with them observed 260 moon culminations for lon- gitude ; sixty-nine culminations of polaris for Utitude ; sixteen occultations of stars, and de- termined the orbits of five comets. He also ob- served the dip of the magnetic needle at over seventy stations located in thirteen states. He was employed in telegraphic comparisons with Sears C. Walker in determining the difference in longitude, 1846-^9, determining that between New Yoric and Wjishington in 1847 ; between New York and Cambridge, Miiss., in 1848, and between Philadelphia and the observatory in Hudson, Ohio. While professor in the University of the City of New York, he prepared a series of mathematical text books. The first observations by which the velocity of the electric fluid on telegraphic wires was determined, were made by him between Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Cambridge under the direction of Sears C. Walker, he having charge of the observations in New York Jan. 29, 1849. He devoted a large part of his time after 1860 to original research and published " Contributions to Meteorology " in the American Journal of Science. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Irish academy, the Royal Meteorolog- ical society, London, the Royal Meteorological society of Italy, and the leading scientific socie- ties in the United States. He bequeathed the income of $300,000 to the astronomical observa- tory connected with Yale university. In the selection of names for a place in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York university, made in October, 1900, his was one of the fifteen names in '* Class C, Educators "and received two votes. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of the City of New York in 1854. He is the author of : Elements of Geometry and Conic Sections (1847); of Plain and Spherical Trigonometry (1848); Progress of Astronomy (1850 and 1856); Elements of Analytical Oeome- try{\m\)\ Elements of Calculus (1851); An In- troduction to Practical Astronomy (1855): Ele- ments of Natural Philosojihy (1858); Elements of Algebra (1858); Elements of Plain and Spherical Trigonometry (1858); Elements of Arithmetic (1863); Treatise on Astronomy (1865); Treatise on Algebra (1868) ; Treatise on Meteorology (1868) ; Elements of Astronomy (1869); The Descendants of Joseph Ijoomis (1870); Elements of Differential and Integral Calculus (1874). He died in New Haven. Conn., Aug. 15. 1889.

LOOMIS, Francis Butler, diplomatist, was born in Marietta.Olno. July 27. 1861 ; son of Judge William lUiller and Frances (Wheeler) L(MMnis ; grandson of Christopher C. Loomis, of New Lon- don, Ct., and a des<'endant from Joseph LcH>mis, 1638. He was graduated at Marietta college,

Ph.B., 1883, and engaged in journalism in Ma- rietta, 1883-84, and in New Y'ork city and Phila- delphia, 1884-85. He was state librarian, Colum- bus, Ohio, 1886-87 ; a journalist in Washington, D.C., 1887-90 ; U.S. consul at St. Etienne, France, 1890-93 ; and editor-in-chief of the Cincinnati Daily Tribune, 1893-97. He was married April 29, 1897, to Elizabeth M. Mast of Springfield, Ohio. He was appointed by President McKinley, U.S. minis- ter to Venezuela, S.A., June 30, 1897, where he protected American interests through several re- volutions, commenced negotiations for an ex- tradition treaty, urged a reciprocity convention, and arranged for i)arcel-post communication. He was promoted to Lisbon, Portugal, June 17, 1901, in recognition of his work.

LOOMIS, George, educator, was born in At- tica, N.Y., June 30, 1817; son of Timothy and Sophronia (Collier) Loomis and a descendant of Joseph Loomis, the immigrant. He was graduated at Wesleyan university, A.B., 1842, A.M., 1845 ; was teacher of natural sciences an4 principal of Genesee Wesleyan seminary, Lima, N.Y., 1842-48, and missionary at Seaman's chapel, Canton, China, 1845-52. He was married Oct. 29, 1851, to Eveline P. Smith. He was president of the Wesleyan Female college, Wil- mington, Del., 1852-60, and president of Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., 1860-74, during which time he built in 1864 Culver Hall furnishing dormi- tories to one hundred students, and admitted girls as students in 1870. He joined the Pittsburgh conference of the M.E. church, 1861 ; was trans- ferred to the Central New Y^'ork conference, 1875, and was stationed at Clifton Springs, N.Y., 1875-81. He founded and became principal of Foster school, Clifton Springs, in 1881. He re- ceived the degree of D.D. from Genessee college in 1860 and was a trustee of Wesleyan university, 1881-86. He died at Clifton Springs, Feb. 26, 1886.

Looms, Justin Rolph, educator, was born in Bennington, N.Y., Aug. 21, 1810 ; son of Justin and Mary (Rolph) Loomis and a descendant of Joseph Loomis, the immigrant. He was prepared for college at the Hamilton Literary and Theo- logical institution (Colgate university); com- pleted his course at Brown university with the class of 1835. and received liis A.B. degree there in 1836. He taught school at Pawtuxet, R.I., 1835-36 ; was tutor in chemistry and natural history at Waterville (Colby) college, Maine, 1836-38, and professor of the same subjects there, 1838-52. He was ordained to the Baptist ministry Jan. 8, 1845. While at Waterville college he at- tended medical lectures in Philadelphia, Pa., and in the trial of Dr. Coolidge cliarged with causing the death of Mr. Mathews by administering prussic acid, his expert evidence as a chemist convicted Dr. Coolidge. He spent nearly a year in scientific