162 
GALLAUDET. 
ADDRESS OF MR. E. M. GALLAUDET, 
PRESIDENT OF THE COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. 
Professor Newcomb, already interested in mathematical 
and astronomical studies, came several times to Washington 
at the age of eighteen to borrow books from the Smithsonian 
Institution. He was then teaching in a public school in 
Prince George County, Maryland. 
These visits to Washington gave him the opportunity of 
making the acquaintance of men prominent in the scientific 
world, notably Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, and Professor Hilgard, of the Coast Survey. These 
men became warmly his friends and encouraged and aided 
him in his studies. 
At the age of 26 young Newcomb was appointed to a 
professorship in the Navy, assigned to duty in the Naval 
observatory, and gave most of his time to the observation 
of planets. Night duty proving unfavorable to his health 
and the condition of his eyes, he took up the line of mathe- 
matical work which he followed with such brilliant success 
all through his life. 
In 1863, at the age of 28, he married Mary Caroline 
Hassler, a daughter of Dr. Hassler, a surgeon in the Navy, 
who lost his life in the wreck of the steamer Atlantic in 
Long Island Sound. Miss Hassler’s grandfather was Ferdi- 
nand Rudolph Hassler, founder and first Superintendent of 
the United States Coast Survey. Miss Hassler’s maternal 
grandfather was Michael Nourse, long-time chief clerk in 
the office of the Register of the Treasury. 
For a few years after their marriage Professor and Mrs. 
Newcomb lived with Mrs. Nourse on 13th street near Penn- 
sylvania avenue. In 1869 they established a home of their 
own on 11th street near N. 
The social side of Professor Newcomb’s nature was strongly 
marked. That is to say, he was fond of social life when it 
brought him in contact with intelligent and agreeable people. 
For fashionable society he cared nothing. 
