364 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



Connecticut, in 1745. His paternal ancestors moved to Canada 

 in 1761, and in Wallace, Nova Scotia, on March 12, 1835, the 

 famous astronomer was born. His father was John B. Newcomb, 

 who followed the precarious occupation of a country school-teacher, 

 seldom remaining in the same place for more than one or two years, 

 and he is described by his son as being "the most rational and 

 dispassionate of men." From his Reminiscences we learn that 

 of his father's family none acquired "great wealth," held "a 

 high official position," or did "anything to make his name live in 

 history." Simon Newcomb's mother was Emily Prince, a descend- 

 ant of a long-lived New England family, that was widely connected, 

 and she included among her ancestors Elder William Brewster, 

 who came over in the Mayflower. 



The story of the courtship of these two is of special interest. 

 In his search for her whom he believed would make him a fitting 

 wife, John B. Newcomb had gone on a visit to Moncton, New 

 Brunswick, and there attracted by the strains of music from a 

 church, he entered the building and found a religious meeting in 

 progress. His eye was at once arrested by the face and head of a 

 young woman playing on a melodeon, who was leading the sing- 

 ing. He sat in such a position that he could carefully scan her 

 face and movements. As he continued this study the conviction 

 grew upon him that here was the object of his search. He soon 

 made her acquaintance, paid her his addresses, and became her 

 accepted suitor. He was fond of astronomy, and during the months 

 of his courtship one of his favorite occupations was to take her 

 out of an evening and show her the constellations. It is even said 

 that among the day-dreams in which they indulged, one was that 

 their first-born might be an astronomer. 



Of his mother, Newcomb wrote: "She was the most profoundly 

 and sincerely religious woman with whom I was ever acquainted, 

 and my father always entertained and expressed the highest 

 admiration for her mental gifts, to which he attributed whatever 

 talents his children might have possessed." Her strength was 

 unequal to her surroundings, and she died at the early age of 

 thirty-seven years. 



