Lowell, Percival

American astronomer; predicted the existence of the planet Pluto; enamored with the prospect of life on Mars and theorized that its canals were the product of intelligent life; great influence on public thinking.

Percival Lowell was the U.S. astronomer who predicted the existence of the planet Pluto. A Boston Brahmin, Lowell was a gentleman scholar who was involved in literature, writing several books on his travels around the globe. He also served as counselor and foreign secretary to the Korean Special Mission to the U.S. Lowell developed an interest in astronomy in middle age, and founded an observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, to study the Solar System, especially Mars. He was enamored with the prospect of life on the Red Planet and theorized that its "canals" were the product of intelligent life