April 16, 1857

Birthday of Henry Smith Pritchett, astronomer, who was born at Fayette, MO and attended Pritchett College in Glasgow, MO. After additional training at the U.S. Naval Observatory he went to work at Washington University in St. Louis. He was named Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Geodetic Survey and was president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Peace.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.