The coronal line K 1474 was identified by William Harkness during the solar eclipse of August 1869. His career spanned dual tracks as a military surgeon and a researcher at the United States Naval Observatory, eventually leading to his service as a rear admiral in the United States Navy.
Early Education and Medical Service
Born in 1837 in Ecclefechan, Scotland, Harkness moved to the United States with his family. He attended Lafayette College between 1854 and 1856 and graduated from the University of Rochester in 1858. He subsequently earned a degree from New York Homeopathic Medical College in 1862. During the American Civil War, he served as a volunteer surgeon, notably at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862 and the Battle of Fort Stevens in July 1864.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Naval and Astronomical Career
Harkness joined the United States Naval Observatory as an aid in astronomy in 1862. By August 1863, he held the rank of professor of mathematics in the Navy. His service included time on the USS Monadnock from 1865 to 1866 and later employment at the United States Hydrographic Office. He played a significant role in the Transit of Venus Commission, leading research parties in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1879 and in Washington in 1882, where he served as executive officer.
Professional Recognition and Later Years
Harkness served as the astronomical director of the Naval Observatory from 1894 to 1899 and as director of the Nautical Almanac from 1897 to 1899. His written contributions included The Solar Parallax and its Related Constants, published in 1891. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1898 and served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1893. He retired from the Navy in December 1899 with the rank of rear admiral and died in 1903 in Jersey City.
Fast facts
- Born: 1837, Ecclefechan
- Died: 1903, Jersey City
- Military rank: Rear admiral
- Education: University of Rochester (1858)
- Medical degree: New York Homeopathic Medical College (1862)
- Scientific milestone: Discovered coronal line K 1474 (1869)
- Notable work: The Solar Parallax and its Related Constants (1891)
- Burial site: Fishkill Rural Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What were the primary contributions of William Harkness to astronomy?
He is credited with the development of the spherometer caliper, the creation of a theory regarding the focal curve of achromatic telescopes, and the discovery of the coronal line K 1474.
Was William Harkness primarily a doctor or an astronomer?
He held qualifications and military experience as a surgeon, but his career was defined by his long-term professional appointments as an astronomer and director at the United States Naval Observatory.
