John Daniel Runkle. 

 1822-1902. 



John Daniel Runkle was born at Root, N. Y., October 11, 

 1822, and died at Southwest Harbor, Me., July 8, 1902. 



His early years were passed upon the farm and not until he 

 was 25 did he enter the newly-established Lawrence Scientific 

 School of Harvard University. Here he received the degree of 

 Bachelor of Science and the honorary degree of Master of Arts 

 with the first graduating class in 185 1. 



His work upon the Nautical Almanac had already begun in 

 1859, ^"^ ^'^^ continued in some form for thirty-five years. 

 In 1852 he contributed to the Astronomical Journal ^^.^ox^ on 

 the "Elements of Thetis" and the "Elements of Psyche." 

 In 1855 his " New tables for determining the values of coeffi- 

 cients in the perturbative function of planetary motion, which 

 depend upon the ratio of the mean distances," were published 

 as one of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. 



In 1858 Mr. Runkle, with the endorsement of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science and other edu- 

 cational bodies, undertook the conduct of the Mathematical 

 Monthly. The cooperation of eminent mathematicians was 

 secured and much interest was developed among subscribers. 

 Conditions were, however, unfavorable, and only three volumes 

 were published. 



About i860 Professor William Barton Rogers enlisted the 

 active support of persons interested in scientific education in the 

 establishment at Boston of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- 

 nology. Mr. Runkle became connected with this undertaking 

 at an early period, and devoted the remainder of his life very 

 largely to its advancement. In October, 1868, he became act- 

 ing President, in consequence of the impaired health of Presi- 

 dent Rogers, and from 1870 to 1878 he was President. The 

 combination of general financial distress and other unfavorable 

 conditions made the position of the new school most difficult and 

 often precarious. President Runkle made a brave struggle 

 against heavy odds, and often with but feeble support. 



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