Rutherfurd, Lewis Morris

  • Posted on: 24 April 2014
  • By: abertin
Primary Name
First Name: 
Lewis
Middle Name: 
Morris
Surname: 
Rutherfurd
Alternate Names
Alternate Surname: 
Rutherford
Birth and Death
Birth Info
Birth Month: 
November
Birth Day: 
16
Birth Year: 
1816
Birth Note: 
Morrisania, New York
Citation for Birth Info: 
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Morris_Rutherfurd
Website Viewing Date: 
Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 11:45
Website Last Modified Date: 
Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 11:45
Death Info
Death Month: 
May
Death Day: 
30
Death Year: 
1892
Citation for Death Info: 
Relationships
Marriage Information: 
Marriage and Children Info
Biographical Information
Biography and Citation Information: 
Biography: 
Mentioned in 18341205WHS_FMS1. male dinner party guest of WHS in Albany, NY.
Biography: 
  • He married: Margaret Chanler Stuyvesant Rutherfurd (1820 - 1890)
  • Their children:
  • Rutherfurd Stuyvesant (1843 - 1909)
  • Louisa Morris Rutherfurd (1855 - 1892)
  • Lewis Morris Rutherfurd (1859 - 1901)
  • Winthrop Chanler Rutherfurd (1862 - 1944)
    His paternal grandfather was US Senator John Rutherfurd(1760-1840) from NJ 1791-1798. Senator John Rutherfurd was the son of Walter Rutherfurd (1723-1804) born at "Edgerston" in Roxburghshire Scotland. Walter Rutherfurd arrived in America in 1756. On his maternal side (six generations) was Lewis Morris, chief justice of NJ and NY, and first governor of New Jersey. His great-grandfather, for whom he was named, was the signer of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Lewis Morris Rutherfurd graduated from Williams College, Massachusetts in 1834 at the age of 18 years. He passed the bar and began praticing law in 1837 with William H. Steward in Auburn, New York. He practiced law in New York City with George Wood as well.
  • Lewis Morris Rutherfurd abandoned his study of law in 1849 and dedicated his leisure to science, particularly astronomy. Until his death he was engaged in experiments which turned out with remarkable success and were the marvels of the scientific world. In this line it may be said truthfully that he won an international distinction.
  • He invented instruments for his studies, including the micrometer for measuring photographs, a machine for producing improved ruled diffraction gratings, and the first telescope designed specifically for astrophotography. Using his instrumentation, he produced a quality collection of photographs of the Sun, Moon, and planets as well as stars and star clusters. In 1862 he began making spectroscopic studies using his new diffraction grating. He discovered distinct categories of spectral classes of stars.
  • He served as trustee of Columbia University from 1858 until 1884, and donated his work including instruments and photographs to Columbia University. "Rutherfurd crater on the Moon " is named after him.
Extra information from Google Docs spreadsheet
Father ID: 
Robert Walter Rutherfurd (1788-1852)
Mother ID: 
Sabina Morris Rutherfurd (1789-1857)
Citation for Marriage Info (old): 
Editorial Information
Editorial Review: 
Verified and Complete