MYER, ALBERT J., 1828-80, b. N. Y.; son of a jeweler who established himself in that business in Buffalo, N. Y., while Albert was a child. He graduated at Hobart col lege, Geneva, N. Y., in 1847; and, returning' to Buffalo, began the study of medicine with Dr. Frank II. Hamilton, and took his degree of at the university of Buffalo in 1851. In 1854 he was appointed assistant surgeon in the U. S. army, and assigned to Texas, where he first developed his now celebrated signal system, and which was adopted by the secretary of war for the use.of the army. From 1858 to '60 Myer was a signal officer with the rank of major. On the outbreak of the war he was made signal officer on the staff of gen. Butler, and afterwards on that of gen. McClellan, succes sively brevetted lieut.col., col., and brig.gen. ; his last promotion being for " distinguished services in organizing, instructing, and commanding the signal corps of the army, and for especial service on Oct. 5, 1804, at Allatoona, Ga. ;" on July 28, 1866, he was made colonel in the regular army and chief signal officer. In 1870 he commenced his work of
observing and giving notice by telegraph of the approach and force of storms on the northern lakes and sea-coast, at the military post in the interior, and at other points in the states and territories. He organized the meteorological division of the signal service, and in 1873, by special act of congress, was placed in charge of the telegraphic duties in this connection, and authorized to establish signal stations at lighthouses and live-saving stations. In the same year he was a delegate to the meteorological congress held in Vienna. Gen. Myer published A Manual of Signals for the United States Army. On the last day of the last session of Congress before his death he received his promotion to the full rank of brig.geu. of the U. S. army. On account of the publication in the lead ing newspapers, of the daily telegraphic prognostications of the weather-bureau, under the head of " probabilities ''; gen. Myer was familiarly and playfully known by the name "old probabilities."