Poor, John Merrill, 1871-1933

Dates

• Existence: 1871 - 1933

Biography

John Merrill Poor was born January 28, 1871 in West Newbury, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1897. After graduation he became principal of Hanover High School before being appointed instructor of mathematics and astronomy at Dartmouth. In 1904, he received his Ph.D. in astronomy from Princeton. In 1906, Poor was promoted to assistant professor of astronomy and became an associate professor in 1915. He reached full professorship in 1917, and held that position until his death. Poor wrote numerous articles on astronomy for scientific journals and his observations at Shattuck Observatory were published in various meteorological publications of the United States government. Poor died December 20, 1933.