M. Delaunay
M. Delaunay (1816-1872)
1872 Obituary [1]
M. Delaunay, Director of the Observatory of Paris, was drowned on the 4th August in the roadstead of Cherbourg. He went out of this port in a small boat with another person and two sailors, when a squall upset the boat. The two passengers, as well as the sailors, perished before any assistance could be rendered to them.
M. Delaunay was born at Lusigny, a little town in the department of the Aube, on the 9th April, 1816. He was therefore 56 years old.
Entering very young into the Polytechnic School, he became one of the most brilliant students, and left in 1836 with the first rank. He was elected successively Engineer in Chief of Mines, Professor of Mechanics at the Polytechnic School, and at the Faculty of Sciences he became Member of the Institute in 1862.
In 1870 he replaced M. Leverrier in the management of the Observatory. We are indebted to him for some excellent works on mechanics, and the perfecting of several instruments, the eudiometer in particular. He was an Officer of the Legion of Honour.