Happy Birthday Luke Howard

[Stephen Locke]

"The Father of Meteorology" born 28 November, 1772.

He wrote, "Clouds are subject to certain distinct modifications, produced by the general causes which affect all the variations of the atmosphere; they are commonly as good visible indicators of the operation of these causes, as is the countenance of the state of a person's mind or body."

Howard's cloud classification had a major influence on the arts as well as on science. Howard corresponded with Goethe, who wrote a series of poems in gratitude to him, including the lines:

But Howard gives us with his clear mind
The gain of lessons new to all mankind;
That which no hand can reach, no hand can clasp
He first has gained, first held with mental grasp

wiki

 

[Jerry Prsha]

It looks like everyone has their own opinion on the topic...

http://www.ametsoc.org/pubs/careers.html#toc2


...Just like with everything else.

 

[Stephen Locke]

Aristotle. Aristotle??? Well, he is probably the father of anything that incorporates rational thought . . .

I knew the Howard statement could be debated as no doubt that bit of history was written with an Anglocentric point of view. But I doubt even Aristotle had many original ideas. Most thinking is derivative.

 

[Shane Adams]

But I doubt even Aristotle had many original ideas. Most thinking is derivative.

Thank you. Just because someone was "first" doesn't mean they're above anyone who followed them. I understand "innovation", but I also have a little saying that goes like this: "Somebody has to be first."

 

[Jerry Prsha]

I honestly think that the article that I found was by someone who needed a lead-in to the article they were writing.

I always thought of Ben Franklin in the same manner..