Henrietta Swan Leavitt
1868 – 1921

Henrietta Swan Leavitt

American astronomer and human calculator (1868–1921)

astronomer
Born
1868-07-04, Lancaster
Died
1921-12-12
Birthplace state
Massachusetts

Biography

Henrietta Swan Leavitt was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1868, and died on December 12, 1921. An astronomer, she discovered a method to measure vast astronomical distances, which altered understanding of the scale and nature of the universe.

Occupation

Henrietta Swan Leavitt is recorded as a astronomer, born in Massachusetts (1868–1921).

Connections to Massachusetts

Henrietta Swan Leavitt was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1868. Explore other notable figures from Massachusetts, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Geology
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Conflict & War
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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
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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
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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More notable figures from Massachusetts

Other historical figures born in Massachusetts, ranked by historical prominence.

John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
president of the United States from 1961 to 1963 (1917–1963)
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
American writer and literary critic (1809–1849)
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
American polymath and statesman (1706–1790)
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 (1924-2018)
John Adams
John Adams
Founding Father, U.S. president from 1797 to 1801
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
President of the United States from 1825 to 1829
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American philosopher (1803–1882)

Frequently asked about Henrietta Swan Leavitt

Who was Henrietta Swan Leavitt?
Henrietta Swan Leavitt was American astronomer and human calculator (1868–1921), born in Massachusetts (1868 – 1921).
When and where was Henrietta Swan Leavitt born?
Henrietta Swan Leavitt was born on 1868-07-04 in Lancaster.
When did Henrietta Swan Leavitt die?
Henrietta died on 1921-12-12.
What was Henrietta Swan Leavitt known for?
Henrietta Swan Leavitt is recorded as a astronomer.
Source

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

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