Cleveland Abbe

The modest Abbe did much to put meteorology on a proper scientific footing, helped establish the system of international time-zones, and was the first to issue systematic weather-forecasts in the U.S. (Britain and France having pioneered the idea). A paper of Ferrel’s inspired him: he later recruited Ferrel, whom he greatly admired, into the nascent national weather bureau. Henry discussed meteorological theory with him: the two were present at Bell’s presentation of his invention, the telephone. Abbe welcomed Bjerknes, something of a competitor, to the U.S. The Wrights, Draper and Piazzi Smyth were all correspondents.