Cleveland Abbe (1838-1916) was the first person in America to successfully provide regular, practical weather forecasts to the public, based on reports from a network of observers. He initially did this in 1869, while director of the Cincinnati Observatory. In 1871, he moved to Washington, where he became a civilian assistant to General Albert Myer, chief signal officer of the Army, who had taken charge of the nation’s first weather service the year before. Throughout his life, this “man of gentle and generous ways,” guided by his abiding faith, overcame personal and professional hardships in pursuit of science to become the most famous—and celebrated—meteorologist in America, if not the world.

Meteorologist and author Mr. Sean Potter will discuss Abbe’s life, career, and impact on the world of weather as he shares excerpts from his book, Too Near for Dreams: The Story of Cleveland Abbe, America’s First Weather Forecaster. He will also touch upon Abbe’s connection to the Cosmos Club, where he was a member from 1883-84, including his participation as a founding member of the National Geographic Society, whose first meeting took place at the club on January 13, 1888.