MICIIELSON
MIDDLETON
MICHELSON, Albert Abraham, scientist,
was born in Strelno,Geriu.'iijy, Dec. 19, lb52; sou
of Samuel and liosalie Michelson. His parents
settled in San Francisco, Cal. He attended the
schools of that city, and was graduated at tiie
U.S. Naval academy, 1873; promoted ensign July
16. 1874, was instructor in pliysics and chemis-
try at the acjidemy, 1875-79, and studied at the
University of Berlin, 1880, at Heidelberg, 1881, at
the College de France and Ecole Polytechnique,
1883. He was promoted master Feb. 5, 1879, and
resigne I from the U.S. navy Sept. 30, 1881, to
accept the chair t>f physics in the Case School of
Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio, which he held,
188;{-S9. He was profe.ssor of pliysics in Clark
university, 1889-92. He determined the velocity
of light to be 186,303 miles a second, and while
at Clark devised and constructed apparatus for
determining distances to one-tenth of a wave
length. He demonstrated his work before the
Bureau International des Poids et Measures by
invitation from the French government, 1892-93,
an 1 his method was adopted as a standard. He
was elected head professor of physics in the Uni-
versity of Cliicago in 1893. and in connection with
his work there he invented the interferometer for
the measurement of distances upon and between
planets, which is so sensitive as to measure dis-
tances of one-fifth of a millionth of an inch. He
was married Dec. 23, 1894, to Edna Stanton of
Lake Forest, 111. He recei ved the honorary degree
of Ph.D. from Western Reserve university in 1886,
and from Stevens Institute of Technology in
1887; that of Sc.D. from the University of Cam-
bridge. England, and that of LL.D. from Yale in
1901. He was elected a member of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, and
was its vice-president in 1887; a member of the
National Academy of Science, the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science; a fellow
of the Royal Astronomical society; member of
the International Commission on Weights and
Measures; honorary member of the Royal Insti-
tute of Great Britain, and a Rumford medalist.
He is the author of: The Relative Motion of the
Earth and Luminiferous Ether (1881); A New
Sensitive Thermometer (1882); Inter- Phenomena
in a New Form of Ref Tactometer (1882); A
Method for Determining the Rate of Tuning
Forks (1883); Velocity of Light in Carbon Bi-
sulphide (1885); Influence of Motion of this Me-
dium on the Velocity of Light (1886); On a
Method for Making the Wave Lengths of Sodium
Light, the Absolute and Practical Standard of
Length (1887).
MICHIE, Peter Smith, engineer, was born in Bre(;hin. Scotland. March 24. 1839. He came to the United States with his parents, settled in VII —'24
Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended public scliools.
He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy,
second in his class, 1862; promoted 1st lieutenant
in the corps of engineers, June 11, 1863, and
served in the construction of batteries for oi>erat-
ing against Fort Sumter and Charleston, S.C,
1863-64. He was chief engineer of the northern
district. Department of the South, and of the
district of Florida, 1864, being engaged in the
battle of Olustee; was successively assistant en-
gineer. Army of the James, and chief engineer,
Army of the James and the Department of Vir-
ginia and North Carolina, 1804, and Department
of Virginia, 1863; and wasbrevetted captain and
major, Oct. 28, 1864, for services during the cam-
paign against Richmond, and brigadier-general
of volunteers, Jan. 1, 1865, for meritorious serv-
ices in 1864. He was assistant in8j)€ctor-general,
25th army corps, 1865, and in command of all the
engineer operations of the column on the left of
the Army of the Potomac, at Hatcher's Run, and
in pursuit of the Confederate army, till the sur-
render of Lee. He was commissioned lieutenant-
colonel of volunteers, and was acting insi>ector-
general from March 23 to June 6, 1865. He was
brevetted lieutenant-colonel, U.S.A., April 9
1865, for services during the campaign terminat-
ing at Appomattox, and was promoted captain*
U.S.A., Nov. 23, 1805. He served on a survey in
Richmond, Va., 1865-66, and was at the U.S.
Military academy as assistant professor of en-
gineering, 1867-71; instructor in practical mili-
tary engineering, military signals and telegraph-
ing, 1867-71, and assistant prof essor of chemistry,
mineralogy and geology, 1867-69. He was a
member of the commission sent to Europe to col-
lect information on the fabrication of iron for de-
fensive purposes in coast fortifications, in 1870;
was commissioned professor with the pay of
colonel, Feb. 14, 1871, and was professor of
natural and experimental philosophy in the U.S.
Military academy from his acceptance, March 6,
1871, up to the time of his death. He was a
member of the board of overseers of the Thayer
School of Civil Engineering, Dartmouth, 1871-
1901. He received the degree of Ph.D. from the
College of New Jersey in 1871, and that of M.A.
from Dartmouth in 1873. He is the author of:
Elements of Wave Motion Relating to Sound and
Light (1882); Life and Letters of Oen. Henry
Upton (1885); The Personnel of General Seacoast
Defense (1885); Elements of Analytical MecJianics
(188^-87); Elements of Hydro-Mechanics (1888);
George B. McClellan (1901). He died at West
Point. N.Y.. Feb. 16, 1901.
MIDDLETON, Arthur, president of the coun- cil of North Carolina, was born probably at " The Oaks." on Goose Creek. Berkeley district. S.C. in 1681; son of Edward and Sarah (Fowell) Middle-
