IT becomes our painful duty, this week, to chronicle the death of Professor Joseph Win-lock, Director of the Observatory. In him we feel that we have lost, not only the eminent scientific investigator, but the revered and loved instructor. Ever ready to appreciate merit and aid the deserving, it is not too much to say that he won the personal affection of every one who knew him. He had complained of indisposition for several days; but nothing serious was apprehended until Thursday night, when his malady suddenly increased, causing his death at an early hour on Friday morning.

Professor Winlock graduated in 1845 at Shelby College, Kentucky, and was immediately appointed Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in that institution. He held this office till 1852, when he removed to Cambridge and took part in the computation of the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac. In 1857 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the United States Navy, and for several months afterwards was Assistant in the United States Naval Observatory at Washington. He was then made Superintendent of the American Ephemeris, and returned to Cambridge. He continued to perform the duties of his office until his appointment in 1866 to the post of Phillips Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Observatory of Harvard College. He was also appointed Professor of Geodesy in the Mining School.

Professor Winlock was a member of the American Academy of Arts, of the National Academy of Sciences, and of the Astronomische Gesellschaft. He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Harvard College in 1868. His published works consist chiefly of a set of Tables of Mercury, of other publications from the office of the American Ephemeris, and of brief papers in astronomical journals and in the Proceedings of the American Academy.