Robert Grant Aitken

From DeafWiki

Robert Grant Aitken was an oral deaf American who became a prominent astronomer. Born 31 December 1864, progressive deafness due to otitis media began in early childhood. He attended public schools, then entered Williams College intending to become a minister, but fascination with the sciences caused him to change his mind.

Graduating college in 1887, Aitken became a teacher at Livermore College; in 1891, he was a professor of mathematics at University of the Pacific, then he spent 40 years with the Lick Observatory of the University of California at Santa Cruz, the last 5 years as director, before retirement in 1935. His distinguishing astronomical specialty was double stars. He died at Berkeley, California, 29 October 1951. A crater on the Moon's far side is named in his honor.

[Info based on Gallaudet University Library Guide to Deaf Biographies, http://liblists.wrlc.org/deafbiog/, used here by permission]