A report has been received of the death at Ravenna, Ohio, on March
23, 1924, of Dr. Thomas Corwin
Mendenhall, formerly Superintendent of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey and well known as
a physicist and as an educator.
He was born at Hanoverton, Ohio, October 4, 1841; received the
greater part of his education at public schools, but by individual
study and exertions was able to qualify as a physicist and to
receive honorary degrees from many learned institutions. As
a professor of physics and mechanics, Dr. Mendenhall was at
different times connected with the Ohio State University, the
University of Michigan, the Western Reserve University, the
Imperial University of Japan, and served with the U.S. Signal
Corps, 1884 to 1886. He was president of the Rose Polytechnic
Institute 1886 to 1889 and of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute
from 1894 to 1901.
He was appointed Director of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
July 9, 1889, and served until September 20, 1894. During this
period he was also Superintendent of the United States Standard
Weights and Measures, which office, then forming part of the
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, was later developed into the
present Bureau of Standards; member of the Light House Board,
and one of the commissioners appointed to determine and mark
boundary line between the United States and Canada, including
the boundary of Alaska. He was a member of the first Bering
Sea Commission in 1891, Massachusetts Highway Commission, and
of the International Electrical Congress.
Under his direction the scientific work of the survey received
a great impetus, and much important work was accomplished.
Dr. Mendenhall devised a quarter second's pendulum for gravity
measurements and instituted improvements in the measurement
of base lines with wire tapes, in the construction of instruments
for precise leveling and in the methods used in triangulation
and gravity work, and developed a comprehensive plan for the
study of terrestrial magnetism. During his administration, observations
were begun for the study of the variation of latitude.
After leaving the survey he became president of the Worcester
Polytechnic Institute. He was a member of the National Academy
of Sciences, and of many scientific societies. He was the author
of "A Century of Electricity." Dr. Mendenhall married Susan
Allan Marple July 12, 1870, by whom he had one son, Charles
E. Mendenhall, who is a professor of physics in the University
of Wisconsin.
C&GS BULLETIN, 3/1924
