THE INCORPORATORS 151 



extra compensation until the appointment of Benjamin Peircc 

 to the position. Though it seems fitting that Hilgard should 

 have become Superintendent upon the death of Bache, he did 

 not receive the appointment until 1881. At that time his health 

 was so impaired that, as he said, " it came too late." He was 

 soon forced to resign. While Assistant Superintendent, his work 

 in the Office of Weights and Measures gained him most favor- 

 able notice in Europe and he was invited to the directorship of 

 an International Bureau of Weights and Measures about to be 

 established in Paris. Declining this, but continuing his con- 

 nection with the International Committee, a beautiful Sevres 

 vase was presented to him by President Thiers on behalf of the 

 French Government in recognition of his services. He also had 

 great satisfaction in being instrumental in bringing to a successful 

 ending the operations for the telegraphic determination of trans- 

 atlantic longitudes. 



Among his other valuable services, Hilgard delivered in 1876 

 a course of twenty lectures at Johns Hopkins University on the 

 subject of " Extended Territorial Surveying." 



Resigning his position in July, 1885, he lived in retirement for 

 five years, and died at Washington, May 9, 1890. 



(From E. W. Hilcard, in Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of 

 Sciences, vol. 3, 1895- PP- 327-338.) 



EDWARD HITCHCOCK 



Born, May 24, 1793 ; died, February 27, 1864 



Edward Hitchcock was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 

 1793. His parents were intellectual, high-minded, and deeply 

 religious people, and from them he inherited on the one hand 

 his interest in religion and theology, and on the other his love 

 of leai-ning, and the inquiring turn of mind which early in life 

 led to a persevering study of science. He began teaching when 

 only 22 years of age, first in his native town, and later in Conway, 

 Massachusetts. Ten years later, at the age of 32, he became Pro- 



