Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/39

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LOOMIS
LOOP
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cuit. In these comparisons Prof. Looniis had charge of the observations in New York. In 18(50 he became professor of natural philosophy and astronomy in Yale, and afterward devoted a large part of his time to original researches, the most im- portant of which were a series of articles published in the " American Journal of Science," under the title of " Contributions to Meteorology."' He was engaged in revising these papers, and arranging the different topics in systematic order, at the same time subjecting each principle to more rigid inves- tigation by comparison with the numerous obser- vations which have recently been published in the United States or abroad. These revised contri- butions, when completed, will present a very full discussion of the principles of dynamic meteor- ology. The titles of his scientific papers exceed 100 in number, and they have appeared both in this country and abroad in journals and in transac- tions of societies of which he was a member. In 1854 he received the degree of LL. D. from the University of the city of New York. Prof. Loomis was a member of scientific societies in the United States and in Europe, and in 1873 was elected to the National academy of sciences. Besides "On Certain Storms in Europe and America" (Washington, 1860), forming part of one of the Smithsonian contributions, he published " Plane and Spherical Trigonometry " (New York, 1848) ; "Progress of Astronomy " (1850 and 1856) ; " Ana- lytical Geometry and Calculus" and " Elements of Algebra " (1851) : " Elements of Geometry and Con- ic Sections " (1851 and 1871) ; " Tables of Loga- rithms " (1855) ; " Natural Philosophy " (1858) ; "Practical Astronomy" (1855 and. 1865); "Ele- ments of Arithmetic " (1863) ; " Treatise on Meteor- ology " (1868) ; " Elements of Astronomy " (1869) ; and "The Descendants of Joseph Loomis " (1870). LOOJttlS, Gustavus, soldier, b. in Thetford, Vt., 23 Sept., 1789; d. in Stratford, Conn., 5 March, 1872. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1811, and assigned to the artillery. For two years he served on garrison duty in New York harbor, and then he was sent to the northern frontiei", where he was at the capture of Fort George in May, 1813, and was taken prisoner at the surprise of Fort Niagara in December of that year. Meanwhile he had been made assistant depu- ty quartermaster-general, with the rank of captain, and he subsequently served in various garrisons. On the reorganization of the army in 1821 he was made captain in the 1st infantry, and in 1838 re- ceived his commission as major, after serving in the campaigns against the Indians in Florida and Texas. In 1840 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 6th infantry, and, after garrison duty on the frontier, served in that rank "during the Mexican war and until 1851, when he was made colonel of the 5th infantry, and given various commands in th3 Indian territory. Col. Loomis participated in the Florida campaigns of 1856-'8 against the Semi- nole Indians, and had charge of that department in 1857-'8. During the civil war he was engaged at first on mustering duty, but later was put at the head of the general recruiting service at Fort Co- lumbus, N. Y. He was retired from active service on 1 June, 1863, but continued to be occupied on court-martial duty. In 1865 he received the brevet of brigadier-general for long and faithful service in the army.


LOOMIS, Justin Rudolph, educator, b. in Ben- nington, N. Y., 10 Aug., 1810. He was graduated at Brown in 1835, and in 1836 became professor of natural sciences in Colby university. This chair he held until 1852. when he was called to fill a simi- lar professorship in the University of Lewisburg, Pa. In 1858 he was made president of that uni- versity, and held the office until 1878. He received the degree of Ph. D. from the University of Lewis- burg in 1854, and that of LL. D. from the Uni- versity of Rochester in 1858. Prof. Loomis is the author of " Elements of Geology " (Boston, 1852) and of " Elements of Anatomy and Physiology " (Philadelphia, 1853).


LOOMIS, Silas Laurence, physician, b. in Coventry, Conn., 22 May, 1822. He was graduated at Wesleyan in 1844, after teaching mathematics and natural sciences in Holliston academy, Mass. After his graduation he returned to teaching, becoming in 1855 principal of the Western academy in Washington, D. C, and meanwhile was graduated from the medical department of Georgetown college in 1856, and was professor of physiology in that department in 1859-60. He held the office of astronomer to the U. S. coast survey in 1857, and in 1860 was special instructor in mathematics to the U. S. naval cadets while on a cruise. In 1861-'7 he was professor of chemistry and toxicology in Georgetown college, also surgeon on Gen. George B. MeClellan's staff in 1862-3, and acting assistant surgeon on the steamer " State of Maine," and in Patent office, Finley, and Mount Pleasant hospitals in 1863-'5. He became professor of practice of medicine in the medical department of Howard university in 1867, later dean and professor of chemistry and toxicology in that institution until 1872. In 1873 he returned to the practice of his profession, and in 1877 was called to the presidency of the Swede iron and coal company, which he held until 1881. He invented a process for producing a textile fabric from palmetto in 1878, and in 1879 discovered a method by which ores of chromium, which were formerly condemned, have become valuable. Dr. Loomis has also made improvements in various instruments of precision. He has held the offices of president of the Washington scientific association in 1862, and president of the American union academy of literature, science, and art in 1872. Besides various magazine articles and college addresses he has published " Normal Arithmetic " (Philadelphia, 1859); "Analytical Arithmetic " (1860) ; and " Key to the Normal Course " (1867). — His brother, Lafayette Charles, educator, b. in Coventry, Conn., 7 July, 1824, was graduated at Wesleyan in 1844, and then taught, becoming in 1853 principal of the Irving institute in Tarrytown, N. Y. A year later he was appointed professor of natural sciences in Wesleyan female college, Wilmington. Del., and became its president in 1857-'8. He was principal of the Lafayette institute, Washington, D. C, during 1859-63, and, after being graduated at the medical department of Georgetown university in 1865, was acting assistant surgeon in the Army of the Potomac. Dr. Loomis then held the presidency of the Wheeling female seminary in West Virginia during 1865, and three years later was appointed professor of physiology in Howard university, Washington, D. C. Subsequently he spent several years in travel and study in Europe, and he has also lectured on art. In addition to magazine articles he has published " Mizpah. Prayer and Friendship " (Philadelphia, 1858); " Mental and Social Culture " (New York, 1867) ; and " Handbook of Art and Travel in Europe " (1882). LOOP, Henry Augustus, artist, b. in Hillsdale, N. Y., 9 Sept., 1831 ; d. at Lake George, N. Y., 20 Oct.. 1895. lie was educated at Great Barrington, settled in New York city, studied art with Henry P. Gray, and in 1857 with Thomas Couture at Paris. He was elected a National academician in 1861,