Charles Greeley Abbot
1872 – 1973

Charles Greeley Abbot

American astrophysicist and the 5th Secretary of the Smithsonian (1872–1973)

scientific collectorastrophysicistastronomer
Born
1872-05-31, Wilton
Died
1973-12-17
Birthplace state
New Hampshire

Biography

Charles Greeley Abbot was born on May 31, 1872, in Wilton, New Hampshire, and died on December 17, 1973. An astrophysicist and scientific collector, he served as the fifth secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1928 to 1944, having previously directed the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and held the position of Assistant Secretary. His research on the solar constant resulted in several patented inventions, including a solar cooker, solar boiler, and solar still.

Occupation

Charles Greeley Abbot is recorded as a scientific collector, a astrophysicist and a astronomer, born in New Hampshire (1872–1973).

Connections to New Hampshire

Charles Greeley Abbot was born in Wilton, New Hampshire in 1872. Explore other notable figures from New Hampshire, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from New Hampshire

Other historical figures born in New Hampshire, ranked by historical prominence.

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Alan Shepard
Alan Shepard
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Henry Wilson
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vice president of the United States from 1873 to 1875
George Whipple
George Whipple
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Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy
American founder of Christian Science (1821–1910)
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
14th and 19th United States Secretary of State (1782–1852)
Horace Greeley
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American politician and publisher (1811–1872)

Frequently asked about Charles Greeley Abbot

Who was Charles Greeley Abbot?
Charles Greeley Abbot was American astrophysicist and the 5th Secretary of the Smithsonian (1872–1973), born in New Hampshire (1872 – 1973).
When and where was Charles Greeley Abbot born?
Charles Greeley Abbot was born on 1872-05-31 in Wilton.
When did Charles Greeley Abbot die?
Charles died on 1973-12-17.
What was Charles Greeley Abbot known for?
Charles Greeley Abbot is recorded as a scientific collector, a astrophysicist and a astronomer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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