Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James
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WEST, Benjamin, astronomer, born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, in March, 1730; died in Providence, Rhode Island, 13 August, 1813. He settled in Providence in 1753, and became a book-seller, which occupation he followed until the beginning of the Revolution. His attention was then directed to the manufacture of clothing for the Continental army. Meanwhile he diligently prosecuted scientific studies, especially that of astronomy. In 1784 he was called upon to teach mathematics in the Protestant Episcopal seminary in Philadelphia, and in 1786 he returned to Providence, accepting the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy in Brown university, which he held until 1799. In 1812-'13 he was postmaster of Providence. The degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Brown and Harvard in 1770 and by Dartmouth in 1782, and that of LL. D. was given him by Brown in 1792. He was elected a fellow of the American academy of arts and sciences in 1781, and published an "Account of the Observation of Venus upon the Sun, June 3, 1769" (Providence, 1769). From 1763 till 1793 he issued almanacs, including "The Ninth American Calendar."
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