William Bowie (engineer)
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William Bowie
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| Born | May 6, 1872 Grassland, Annapolis Junction, Maryland |
| Died | August 28, 1940 Washington, DC |
| Nationality | American |
| Fields | Geodesy |
| Notable awards | William Bowie Medal (1939) |
William Bowie, B.S., C.E., M.A. (May 6, 1872 – August 28, 1940) was an American geodetic engineer.
Contents
Background and education
He was born 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]
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]
In 1932, Bowie received the Prix Charles Lagrange from the Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique.[2] He later received the Franklin Institute's Elliott Cresson Medal in 1937.
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]
Legacy
Two undersea features, the Bowie Seamount and the Bowie Canyon are named after him.[3] The William Bowie Medal is named in honor of William Bowie.
See also
References
External links
- William Bowie Biography – American Geophysical Union
- William Bowie Obituary
- National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir
