Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/387

 MICIIELSON

MIDDLETON

MICHELSON, Albert Abraham, scientist, was born in Strelno,Geriu.'iijy, Dec. 19, lb52; sou of Samuel and liosalie Michelson. His parents settled in San Francisco, Cal. He attended the schools of that city, and was graduated at tiie U.S. Naval academy, 1873; promoted ensign July 16. 1874, was instructor in pliysics and chemis- try at the acjidemy, 1875-79, and studied at the University of Berlin, 1880, at Heidelberg, 1881, at the College de France and Ecole Polytechnique, 1883. He was promoted master Feb. 5, 1879, and resigne I from the U.S. navy Sept. 30, 1881, to accept the chair t>f physics in the Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio, which he held, 188;{-S9. He was profe.ssor of pliysics in Clark university, 1889-92. He determined the velocity of light to be 186,303 miles a second, and while at Clark devised and constructed apparatus for determining distances to one-tenth of a wave length. He demonstrated his work before the Bureau International des Poids et Measures by invitation from the French government, 1892-93, an 1 his method was adopted as a standard. He was elected head professor of physics in the Uni- versity of Cliicago in 1893. and in connection with his work there he invented the interferometer for the measurement of distances upon and between planets, which is so sensitive as to measure dis- tances of one-fifth of a millionth of an inch. He was married Dec. 23, 1894, to Edna Stanton of Lake Forest, 111. He recei ved the honorary degree of Ph.D. from Western Reserve university in 1886, and from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1887; that of Sc.D. from the University of Cam- bridge. England, and that of LL.D. from Yale in 1901. He was elected a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was its vice-president in 1887; a member of the National Academy of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science; a fellow of the Royal Astronomical society; member of the International Commission on Weights and Measures; honorary member of the Royal Insti- tute of Great Britain, and a Rumford medalist. He is the author of: The Relative Motion of the Earth and Luminiferous Ether (1881); A New Sensitive Thermometer (1882); Inter- Phenomena in a New Form of Ref Tactometer (1882); A Method for Determining the Rate of Tuning Forks (1883); Velocity of Light in Carbon Bi- sulphide (1885); Influence of Motion of this Me- dium on the Velocity of Light (1886); On a Method for Making the Wave Lengths of Sodium Light, the Absolute and Practical Standard of Length (1887).

MICHIE, Peter Smith, engineer, was born in Bre(hin. Scotland. March 24. 1839. He came to the United States with his parents, settled in VII —'24

Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended public scliools. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy, second in his class, 1862; promoted 1st lieutenant in the corps of engineers, June 11, 1863, and served in the construction of batteries for oi>erat- ing against Fort Sumter and Charleston, S.C, 1863-64. He was chief engineer of the northern district. Department of the South, and of the district of Florida, 1864, being engaged in the battle of Olustee; was successively assistant en- gineer. Army of the James, and chief engineer, Army of the James and the Department of Vir- ginia and North Carolina, 1804, and Department of Virginia, 1863; and wasbrevetted captain and major, Oct. 28, 1864, for services during the cam- paign against Richmond, and brigadier-general of volunteers, Jan. 1, 1865, for meritorious serv- ices in 1864. He was assistant in8j)€ctor-general, 25th army corps, 1865, and in command of all the engineer operations of the column on the left of the Army of the Potomac, at Hatcher's Run, and in pursuit of the Confederate army, till the sur- render of Lee. He was commissioned lieutenant- colonel of volunteers, and was acting insi>ector- general from March 23 to June 6, 1865. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, U.S.A., April 9 1865, for services during the campaign terminat- ing at Appomattox, and was promoted captain* U.S.A., Nov. 23, 1805. He served on a survey in Richmond, Va., 1865-66, and was at the U.S. Military academy as assistant professor of en- gineering, 1867-71; instructor in practical mili- tary engineering, military signals and telegraph- ing, 1867-71, and assistant prof essor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology, 1867-69. He was a member of the commission sent to Europe to col- lect information on the fabrication of iron for de- fensive purposes in coast fortifications, in 1870; was commissioned professor with the pay of colonel, Feb. 14, 1871, and was professor of natural and experimental philosophy in the U.S. Military academy from his acceptance, March 6, 1871, up to the time of his death. He was a member of the board of overseers of the Thayer School of Civil Engineering, Dartmouth, 1871- 1901. He received the degree of Ph.D. from the College of New Jersey in 1871, and that of M.A. from Dartmouth in 1873. He is the author of: Elements of Wave Motion Relating to Sound and Light (1882); Life and Letters of Oen. Henry Upton (1885); The Personnel of General Seacoast Defense (1885); Elements of Analytical MecJianics (188^-87); Elements of Hydro-Mechanics (1888); George B. McClellan (1901). He died at West Point. N.Y.. Feb. 16, 1901.

MIDDLETON, Arthur, president of the coun- cil of North Carolina, was born probably at " The Oaks." on Goose Creek. Berkeley district. S.C. in 1681; son of Edward and Sarah (Fowell) Middle-