Arthur Storer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can. (December 2007)
Arthur Storer
Born abt. 1648
Lincolnshire, England
Died 1686
Calvert Co., MD
Occupation Gentleman, Astronomer, & possibly Apothecary
Title Dr.
Spouse None
Children None
Parents Edward Storer (father),
Katherine Babington (mother),
William Clarke (step-father)

Arthur Storer (c. 1648 – 1686) was America's first colonial astronomer. He came to Calvert County, Maryland, from Lincolnshire, England. He was among the first observers to sight and record data about a magnificent comet that passed over Patuxent skies in 1682.[1] His detailed observations of the comet were very helpful to Isaac Newton, who quoted Storer's data repeatedly in his great scientific work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. Storer's work shows up in a number of Newton's writings. The comet became known as Storer's Comet, until Edmund Halley later predicted the comet's return; thereafter this celestial marvel was known as Halley's Comet.

A planetarium bearing Storer's name is located in Prince Frederick, Maryland.

Contents

[edit] Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton's well known confessions list in the Fitzwilliam notebook of 1662 includes "beating Arthur Storer".

When Isaac was about 12 years old, he was sent away to the Grammar school in Grantham. While in school he boarded at the home of William Clarke, an apothecary on Grantham High Street next to the George Inn. Clarke was the second husband of Arthur's mother Katherine. Katherine brought her four children Edward, Arthur, Katherine and Ann to the marriage.

Arthur's sister Katherine Storer, did not deny that Newton may have had a romantic interest in her. William Stukeley interviewed her in 1727 after Newton's death when she was 'Mrs Vincent' a widow of 82 years. He wrote: "Sir Isaac & she being thus brought up together, it is said that he entertain'd a passion for her, when they grew up: nor dos she deny it."

[edit] Storer's Comet

At about dawn on August 14, 1682 looking westward over the Patuxent River near Hunting Creek, Arthur Storer apparently saw what is now known as Halley’s Comet.ref name=newton/> The comet stayed visible in the area until September 18, 1682.

Storer's observations of the comet are considered to be the most accurate of his contemporaries (including Edmund Halley) with the exception of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

In 1680 Storer described his discovery by saying:[citation needed]

“ It was a very great amazement . . .
to see a longbright stream in form like a sword streaming from the horizon about 30 degrees inaltitude . . .
so nearly after sunset.		 ”

[edit] Ancestry

Arthur's ancestors in three generations
Arthur Storer
(1659-1731)		 Father:
Edward Storer
(b. abt. 1610)		 Paternal Grandfather:

 Paternal Great-grandfather:
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Paternal Grandmother:

 Paternal Great-grandfather:
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Mother:
Catherine Babington

(b. 1613)

 Maternal Grandfather:
Adrian Babinton
(b. 1578)		 Maternal Great-grandfather:
Humphrey Babington (b. 1544)
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Margaret Cave (b. 1564)
Maternal Grandmother:
Margaret Cave
(b. est. 1580-1595)		 Maternal Great-grandfather:
Henry Cave
Maternal Great-grandmother:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Newton, Isaac (1729). The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, 481. 

[edit] External links=