CHRISTIAN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH PETERS. 373 



There can be no doubt that he was conscious of his failing strength 

 and ability while still occupying the position of Superintendent, 

 for on more than one occasion he gave expression to the wish that 

 the burden of his duties might be shifted to other shoulders. 



His retirement took place in 1885, and from that time on his 

 lingering illness entailed great sufferings, and several times brought 

 him to the point of death. From each of these attacks he rallied, 

 with less power of resistance, until death relieved him of his suf- 

 ferings, on May 8, 1891. 



CHRISTIAN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH PETERS. 



Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters was born on September 

 19, 1813, at Coldenbiittel, in the Duchy of Schleswig. He studied 

 mathematics and astronomy at Berlin between 1832 and 1836, and, 

 after attaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, continued his 

 education under the celebrated Gauss at Gottingen. In 1838 he 

 was engaged to assist in a scientific expedition to Sicily for in- 

 vestigations on Mount Etna, and was employed, after the conclu- 

 sion of this work, to direct the trigonometrical survey undertaken 

 by the Neapolitan government. 



Upon the outbreak of the revolutionary movements of 1848, it 

 became impossible for him to retain his situation without sup- 

 pressing his own sentiments in favor of freedom. Unable to con- 

 ceal his liberal sympathies, he was dismissed and banished. But 

 he soon returned to take an active part in the Sicilian insurrec- 

 tion, during which he served under Mieroslawski, first as captain 

 and then as major of engineers. The suppression of the insurrec- 

 tion left him in imminent peril of capture by the Royalists ; but 

 he finally effected his escape to France. He next went to Turkey, 

 in hopes of obtaining scientific employment in that country; but 

 the outbreak of the Crimean war put an end to these expectations, 

 and he came to the United States in 1854. Here he found em- 

 ployment in the Coast Survey, and subsequently, in 1858, was 

 appointed Professor of Astronomy at Hamilton College, Clinton, 

 New York, and Director of the Observatory connected with that 

 institution. He retained this position until his sudden death, in 

 1890. On the morning of July 19 in that year, his body was 

 found on the steps leading to the building where he had lived, and 

 it appeared that he had died on his way home from his customary 

 work in the Observatory. 



