Judson B. Coit

Who was Judson B. Coit?

Judson Boardman Coit was an American mathematician and astronomer who published in numerous journals, including The Astrophysical Journal and the Journal of the British Astronomical Association. The largest part of his professional career was spent as a Professor at Boston University where he established the Department of Astronomy and developed a teaching and research observatory. The teaching Observatory at Boston University is named in his memory.

Judson Coit was raised on a central New York farm and attended a rural district school. His education included sufficient mathematics to enter college, as well as one term of Latin. At age 17, he was working on a farm during the summer, attending Faley Seminary in Fulton, NY during fall and spring, and teaching school during the winter.

In 1871, at age 22, he entered Syracuse University during its first full year of operation. His undergraduate studies included particular attention to Greek, which he intended to teach, and to mathematics, because he liked the subject and admired the men who taught it. He became a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Glee Club, and played varsity baseball.