William Bowie

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William Bowie
William Bowie
William Bowie
Born May 6, 1872
Grassland
Died August 25, 1940
Nationality American
Fields geodesy

William Bowie, B.S., C.E., M.A. (May 6, 1872–August 25, 1940) was an American geodetic engineer.

Contents

[edit] Background and Education

He was born at at Grassland, an historic estate near Annapolis Junction, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to Thomas John Bowie and Susanna Anderson. He was educated in public schools, at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut (B.S. 1893; M.A. 1907; Sc.D. 1919) , and Lehigh (C.E. 1895; Sc.D. 1922). He received honorary degrees (LL.D. 1936) from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, at the meeting of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics of which he was President, and from George Washington University (Sc.D. 1937).[1]

[edit] Career

In 1895 he entered the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. During World War I he served in the Corps of Engineers in the army as a major.

He represented the United States at various international geodetic conferences and congresses. His scientific researches had to do with the theory of isostasy and its applications to dynamic and structural geology. He retired from government service at 64 in 1936.

Bowie's professional activity was directed toward three general objectives:

  • "Promotion of mapping of the United States and its territories and improvement of cartographic methods and technique.
  • Expansion of geodetic work and improvement of instruments and methods.
  • Promotion of interest and progress in geophysical sciences, through the media of national and international bodies."[1]

[edit] Personal

An Episcopalian he married Elizabeth Taylor Wattles of Alexandria, Virginia on June 28, 1899. Together, they had two children, William (Jr.) and Clagett. William died after a three-week illness and lies buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Fleming, J . A. (1951), William Bowie, 1872—1940 A Biographical Memoir, Washington D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, pp. 61-63, <http://books.nap.edu/html/biomems/wbowie.pdf> 

[edit] External links