What is Percival Lowell?
{{Infobox scientist |name = Percival Lowell |image = Percival Lowell 1900s2.jpg |image_size = |caption = Percival Lowell during the early-20th century |birth_date = {{birth date|1855|3|13}} |birth_place = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1916|11|12|1855|3|13}} |death_place = [[Flagstaff, Arizona]], U.S. |residence = |citizenship = |nationality = American |field = [[Astronomy]] |education = [[Noble and Greenough School]] |work_institutions = |alma_mater = [[Harvard University]] |doctoral_advisor = |doctoral_students = |known_for = [[Martian canal]]s, [[Asteroid]]s discovered: [[793 Arizona]] (April 9, 1907) |influences = |influenced = |prizes = |footnotes = |signature = }} '''Percival Lawrence Lowell''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|oʊ|əl}}; March 13, 1855 – November 12, 1916) was an American businessman, author, mathematician, and [[astronomer]]. He founded the [[Lowell Observatory]] in [[Flagstaff, Arizona]]. He started the effort that led to the discovery of [[Pluto]] 14 years after his death. His reputation was damaged by his belief in [[canals]] on [[Mars]].<ref>Chambers, Paul 1999. ''Life on Mars; the complete story''. London: Blandford. ISBN 978-0-7137-2747-0</ref> This idea was counter-attacked by [[Alfred Russel Wallace]].<ref>Wallace, Alfred Russel 1907. ''Is Mars habitable?: a critical examination of Professor Percival Lowell's book 'Mars and its canals', with an alternative explanation''. London: Macmillan.</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lowell, Percival}} [[Category:American astronomers]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Boston]] [[Category:Scientists from Boston]] [[Category:Scientists from Arizona]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Arizona]] [[Category:1855 births]] [[Category:1916 deaths]] [[Category:People from Flagstaff, Arizona]]