ESPY, James Pollard, American meteor ologist, the founder of modern meteorology: b. Washington County, Pa., 9 May 1785; d. Cin cinnati, 24 Jan. 1860. He was graduated at Transylvania University 1808. The name ((storm-king* was given to him for his originat ing a theory of storms which involved him in much controversy. He studied law at Xenia, Ohio, and was principal of the academy at Cumberland, Md., for five years (1812-17). From there he went to the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, as professor of classical languages (1817-53). In 1836 he won the Magellanic prize for an essay on the theory of storms; and four years later he visited England and France where he explained at length his storm theories before the chief scientific societies of both countries. On his return home he was ap pointed by the United States Congress meteor ologist to the War Department, and later to the Navy Department also. His of
Storms' which was published in 1841 gained him a great reputation in his special field. His meteorological doctrine on the point of how atmospheric disturbances commence was ap proved by the French Academy, but his views as to the mechanics of storm are contrary to received fact, and have been exploded. His principal contribution to practical meteorology was his institution of a system of telegraphic weather bulletins, which should converge at the capital and give daily intelligence of the weather in different widely separated points, and it may be justly claimed that he thus laid the founda tion of all sound theory on the subject of weather prediction. Consult Monthly Weather Review (Vol. XXXV, Washington 1907) ; and Appleton's Popular Science Monthly (April 1889).