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Article: Proctor, Richard Anthony
- Article from:
- Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Charles Scribner's Sons. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PROCTOR, RICHARD ANTHONY
(
b.
. Chelsea, London, England, 23 March 1837;
d
. New York, N.Y., 12 September 1888)
astronomy.
Proctor acquired an immense popular reputation by virtue of his lucid presentation, both in books and in lectures. He was familiar not only with what was visible through the telescopes of the time but also with astronomy in a literary context. As an astronomer he was prone to speculation, and frequently he was wildly mistaken.
Proctor was the youngest son of William Proctor, a well-to-do solicitor. His father
’
s death in 1850, followed by a protracted lawsuit, left the family in difficult circumstances. Proctor was a bank clerk (1854) until he was able to attend ...
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