Major Edwin P. Hubble, A Soldier's Story
Major Edwin P. Hubble, A Soldier's Story
Major Edwin Powell Hubble was born on November 20, 1889, in Marshfield, Missouri. From an early age, he displayed a wide-ranging intellect and curiosity, pairing a love of science fiction, particularly Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, with exceptional athletic ability. As a student, Hubble excelled both physically and academically, setting the Illinois high school high jump record.
Hubble attended the University of Chicago, graduating in 1910, before traveling to England as a Rhodes Scholar. At the University of Oxford, he studied philosophy and law, earning a degree in jurisprudence in 1913. Despite his success in the humanities, Hubble ultimately felt drawn back to science. Upon returning to the United States, he resumed his studies at the University of Chicago and earned a doctorate in astronomy.
Shortly thereafter, Hubble was offered a position at the Mount Wilson Observatory, home to the world’s most powerful telescope at the time. Rather than immediately beginning what would become a historic scientific career, Hubble postponed the appointment to serve his country during World War I.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a major in the 86th Infantry Division. Major Hubble deployed to Europe in September 1918 and served near Bordeaux, France, where the division was stationed in the final months of the war. He returned to the United States in August 1919.
Following his military service, Major Hubble began work at the Mount Wilson Observatory, where he remained until 1942. It was during this period that he made the discoveries that permanently altered humanity’s understanding of the universe. Using observations conducted with the 100-inch Hooker Telescope, Hubble demonstrated that the spiral nebulae observed in the night sky were, in fact, independent galaxies far beyond the Milky Way.
Working in collaboration with astronomer Milton Humason, Hubble helped establish the relationship between a galaxy’s distance and its velocity, evidence that the universe is expanding. This foundational work laid the observational groundwork for what would later be known as the Big Bang theory and marked the birth of modern cosmology.
During World War II, Hubble again set aside astronomical research, serving as a civilian scientist at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where his analytical and technical expertise supported the war effort. After the war, he returned to California and continued his research at both Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories.
Major Edwin Powell Hubble died on September 28, 1953. In recognition of his profound contributions to science, NASA named the Hubble Space Telescope in his honor, an instrument that has since transformed astronomy and deepened humanity’s view of the cosmos.
Though his name is now synonymous with astronomical discovery, Edwin Hubble was also a soldier who twice set aside scientific ambition in service to his country. His legacy bridges disciplines, generations, and even galaxies, proof that service to humanity can take many forms.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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