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When a fiery meteor crash in 1807 lit up the dark early-morning sky in Weston, Connecticut, it did more than startle the few farmers in the sleepy village. More importantly, it sparked the curiosity of Benjamin Silliman, a young chemistry professor at nearby Yale College. His rigorous investigation of the incident started a chain of events that eventually brought the once-low standing of American science to sudden international prominence. And, by coincidence, the event also embroiled Silliman in politics, pitting him against no less an adversary than President Thomas Jefferson. Based on a wealth of original source documents and interiews with current experts in history, astronomy, and geology, this journalist tells the remarkable story of Benjamin Silliman, arguably America's first bonafide scientist. In a lively narrative rich with fascinating historical detail, the author documents the primitive state of American science at the time; Silliman's careful analysis of the meteor samples; and the publication of his conclusions, which contradicted both popular superstitions regarding meteors as ominous portents and a common belief that meteors come from volcanic eruptions on the moon. She also describes Silliman's struggles to build a chemistry department at Yale with rudimentary material; new insights into geology that resulted from his analysis of the meteor; and his report to the prestigious French Academy, which raised the prestige of American science. Finally, she discusses the political turbulence of the time, which Silliman could not escape, and how the meteor event was used to drive a wedge between New England and Jefferson. This is a fascinating vignette of Federal Period America when science on this continent was still in its infancy, but was just beginning to make its mark.… (plus d'informations)
For anyone who has ever turned their eyes to the sky and pondered, this story of the 1807 Weston Fall offers a full and fasincating account of how early Americans reacted to a magnificent meteorite. The responses and reactions of those who witnessed this event are chronicled by Cathryn Prince in this meticulously researched book. Across time and culture, Prince reports on humans' responses and rationalizations to meteorites -- thunder stones -- and offers the kind of contextualization needed to make sense of the national controversy which ensued in 1807.
The Professor is Benjamin Silliman, with a calling to become Yale's missionary for American Science. The President is Thomas Jefferson who mocks the Yankee who would consider the meteor anything less than an act of God. You can see through the array of factual evidence, the seeds for the split between south and north that brought the nation into civil war 40 years later. The "you are there" feel to the story makes it a joy to read as history comes back to life; the specificity and details of everyday life in 1807 give depth to the characters and actions. Science, in its origins, began with space exploration and this historical connection is compelling.
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
I did not dream of being favored by an event of this kind in any vicinity, and occurring on a scale truly magnificent. - Benjamin Silliman
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. - Hamlet, act I, scene 5
Dédicace
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
For my parents, Marvin and Norma Prince.
Premiers mots
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Darkness clung to the early morning sky of December 14, 1807, as Judge Nathan Wheeler set about on his morning stroll.
Citations
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
My own country so nobly jealous of its own liberties stands disgraced in the eyes of mankind and condemned at the bar of Heaven for being at once active in carrying on this monstrous traffic.
Whether a farmer, a banker, or a teacher, al were equal in the eyes of science.
Derniers mots
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
And Professor Silliman was a part of that - because he started looking into Earth's birth one cold December day when the nation was still young.
Références à cette œuvre sur des ressources externes.
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▾Descriptions de livres
When a fiery meteor crash in 1807 lit up the dark early-morning sky in Weston, Connecticut, it did more than startle the few farmers in the sleepy village. More importantly, it sparked the curiosity of Benjamin Silliman, a young chemistry professor at nearby Yale College. His rigorous investigation of the incident started a chain of events that eventually brought the once-low standing of American science to sudden international prominence. And, by coincidence, the event also embroiled Silliman in politics, pitting him against no less an adversary than President Thomas Jefferson. Based on a wealth of original source documents and interiews with current experts in history, astronomy, and geology, this journalist tells the remarkable story of Benjamin Silliman, arguably America's first bonafide scientist. In a lively narrative rich with fascinating historical detail, the author documents the primitive state of American science at the time; Silliman's careful analysis of the meteor samples; and the publication of his conclusions, which contradicted both popular superstitions regarding meteors as ominous portents and a common belief that meteors come from volcanic eruptions on the moon. She also describes Silliman's struggles to build a chemistry department at Yale with rudimentary material; new insights into geology that resulted from his analysis of the meteor; and his report to the prestigious French Academy, which raised the prestige of American science. Finally, she discusses the political turbulence of the time, which Silliman could not escape, and how the meteor event was used to drive a wedge between New England and Jefferson. This is a fascinating vignette of Federal Period America when science on this continent was still in its infancy, but was just beginning to make its mark.
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▾Description selon les utilisateurs de LibraryThing
For anyone who has ever turned their eyes to the sky and pondered, this story of the 1807 Weston Fall offers a full and fasincating account of how early Americans reacted to a magnificent meteorite. The responses and reactions of those who witnessed this event are chronicled by Cathryn Prince in this meticulously researched book. Across time and culture, Prince reports on humans' responses and rationalizations to meteorites -- thunder stones -- and offers the kind of contextualization needed to make sense of the national controversy which ensued in 1807.
The Professor is Benjamin Silliman, with a calling to become Yale's missionary for American Science. The President is Thomas Jefferson who mocks the Yankee who would consider the meteor anything less than an act of God. You can see through the array of factual evidence, the seeds for the split between south and north that brought the nation into civil war 40 years later. The "you are there" feel to the story makes it a joy to read as history comes back to life; the specificity and details of everyday life in 1807 give depth to the characters and actions. Science, in its origins, began with space exploration and this historical connection is compelling.
Fantastic! (