292 
OBITUARY NOTICES. 
WILLIAM HARKNESS. 
1837-1903. 
[Read before the Society, May 23, 1903.] 
William Harkness, Professor of Mathematics, U. S. N., the 
son of Rev. Dr. James and Jane (Weild) Harkness, was born 
at Ecclefechan, Scotland, on December 17, 1837, and died 
in Jersey City, Ne w Jersey, on February 23,1903. He was one 
of the founders of this Society, its President in 1887, a constant 
attendant upon its sessions, contributing papers of value to 
its proceedings, and participating in its discussions. He was 
never married, and for many years made his residence in 
the rooms of the Cosmos Club, of which he was also a founder, 
where his genial society and delightful conversation was 
freely enjoyed by the scientific circle of Washington. He 
made many warm friends in his walk through life, and their 
personal sorrow is mingled with a widespread regret that 
he was not able to finish several incomplete pieces of work, 
which had been postponed in consequence of the burden of 
duties devolving upon him as Astronomical Director of the 
U. S. Naval Observatory and Director of the Nautical Alma¬ 
nac offices during the last years of his official career. His 
colleagues expressed their ownHeelings regarding him in 
these words: “ Throughout all his connection with the Ob¬ 
servatory, for 37 years previous to his retirement, in 1899, a 
conscientious faithfulness even to the minutest details char¬ 
acterized the performance of all his duties. This adherence 
to duty was so rigidly carried out by him that he rarely 
gave himself the occasional relaxation so necessary to the, 
recuperation of wearied energies, which might have added 
years of usefulness to his life. During the past year it has 
been a special cause of regret to him that feebleness of body 
should compel him to forego participation in scientific work, 
meanwhile continually hoping soon to recover strength 
