www.lesswrong.com/posts/MwQRucYo6BZZwjKE7/einstein-s-arrogance
1 correction found
In 1919, Sir Arthur Eddington led expeditions to Brazil and to the island of Principe,
Eddington did not lead the Brazil (Sobral) expedition; that station was staffed by (and commonly described as led by) Andrew Crommelin and Charles Davidson. Eddington went to (and led) the Principe expedition.
Full reasoning
The post’s opening sets up the 1919 eclipse test of general relativity and states that Eddington “led expeditions to Brazil and to the island of Principe.” That overstates Eddington’s role: he participated in (and led) the Principe team, but the Sobral, Brazil station was handled by a separate Greenwich team.
Two independent, credible historical accounts contradict the idea that Eddington led the Brazil expedition:
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A contemporary report in Nature (June 5, 1919) states that the Sobral station in Brazil was “occupied by Dr. Crommelin and Mr. Davidson,” and separately mentions a message “from Prof. Eddington at Prince’s Island.” This directly distinguishes the Brazil observers (Crommelin & Davidson) from Eddington’s Principe location.
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A detailed historical review in Physics Today likewise explains that Eddington traveled to Principe, while Dyson sent Charles Davidson and Andrew Crommelin to Sobral, Brazil.
So, while it’s fair to say Eddington was a central figure in the overall 1919 effort and led the Principe expedition, it’s not correct to say he led expeditions to both Brazil and Principe.
2 sources
- The Solar Eclipse | Nature (Published 05 June 1919)
Reports the Sobral (Brazil) station was “occupied by Dr. Crommelin and Mr. Davidson” and separately mentions “Prof. Eddington at Prince’s Island.”
- Testing relativity from the 1919 eclipse—a question of bias - Physics Today (Mar 1, 2009)
States Eddington traveled to a station on Principe, while Dyson sent Charles Davidson and Andrew Crommelin to Sobral in northern Brazil.