WOODWARD, ROBERT SIMPSON ( 1849—) . An American physicist and mathematician, born at Rochester, Alich. He graduated at the Uni versity of Michigan in 1872 and was appointed assistant engineer on the United States Lake Survey. In 1882 he became assistant astron omer to the United States Transit of Venus Commission, serving with Professor Asaph Hall at the San Antonio, Texas, station. in 1884 he resigned to beemne astronomer to the United States Geological Survey, serving until 1888, when he became assistant in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. In 1S93 he was called to Columbia University as professor of mechanics and subsequently became professor of mathematical physics as well. in 1S95 Dr. Woodward was made dean of the faculty of pure science, a position he at present holds, and he also became president of the New York Academy of Sciences, of the American Mathematieal Society, and of the American Association for the Ad vancement. of Science. He carried on researches
and published papers in many departments of astronomy, geodesy, and mechanics, Ile edited the first report of the United States Lake Survey and was the author of several important chap ters in this large volume. In the course of his work with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey he devised and constructed the 'iced bar and long tape base apparatus.' which enables a base line to be measured with greater accuracy and with less expense than by methods previous ly employed. Professor Woodward's work on the composition and structure of the earth and the variation of latitude has found expression in a number of valuable papers. In 1894 a volume of Geographical Tables, which had been prepared by Professor Woodward. was published by the Smithsonian Institution.