11 Facts About Chester Lyman

Chester Smith Lyman was an American teacher, clergyman and astronomer.

Chester Lyman was born in Manchester, Connecticut, to Chester and Mary Smith Lyman.

Chester Lyman served for two years as Superintendent of Ellington School, then studied theology at the Union and Yale seminaries.

Chester Lyman became a professor of Industrial Mechanics and Physics at Yale's Sheffield Scientific School, and was considered an eminent scholar.

Chester Lyman invented the combined transit instrument and zenith telescope that was used to determine latitude, including that of Hawaii.

Chester Lyman was on the board of managers for the Yale Observatory, and in December 1866 he was the first to observe the delicate ring of light surrounding Venus when the planet is in inferior conjunction.

Chester Lyman patented a design for a wave machine in 1867.

Chester Lyman became the director of the Yale Observatory and held that post until his death.

Chester Lyman died in 1890 as the result of a stroke, which had kept him home-bound for the last two years of his life.

Chester Lyman was a member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences and an honorary member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Chester Lyman served as president of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences for 20 years.