I found this in a book titled "The History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts", Author: Leonard Bliss Jr., Call Number: F74.R3B6 BENJAMIN WEST, L. L. D., a distinguished mathematician and philosopher, was born at Rehoboth in the year 1730. His grandfather came from Great Britain, and settled in the part of Rehoboth adjoining Swansey. His father, who was a respectable farmer, removed, while Benjamin was but a boy, to Bristol, R. I. In that village he received all the education, which was not the fruit of his own unaided and persevering exertions, from the Rev. Mr. Burt. From his earliest years he discovered a remarkable fondness and aptness for mathematical studies. His pecuniary resources were very limited; and Mr. Burt, who could diseover in the expanding mind of the boy the germ of the future eminence of the man, kindly furnished him with books, and did whatever was in his power to foster his rising genius. Frowned on by fortune, but gifted by nature with powers above the ability of gold to purchase, his uncommon acquisitions were the admiration of his contemporaries, and secured to him a reputation, which few, with no greater advantages, have ever attained. The mathematics, in their several departments, were his favorite study, though he made respectable, and even extensive, acquisitions in general knowledge. About the year 1753, he removed to Providence, where he opened a school. This, however, after some time, he relinquished; and, from an expectation of improving his pecuniary circumstances, engaged in mercantile pursuits. While in this occupation, he opened the first book-store in Providence. He continued in this business till the commencement of the Revolutionary war, when, in consequence of the embarrassment of his affairs, he was obliged to relinquish commercial business entirely, and seek some other employment for the support of his family. During the war Mr. West was a zealous patriot; and, Providence being a depot for military stores and supplies for the American army, he was engaged in manufacturing clothing for our troops till very near the close of the war. During all this time, however, he found some leisure for study, and applied himself to his favorite pursuit with an unyielding energy. About the year 1763, he commenced the publication of an almanac, the astronomical calculations designed for the meridian of Providence; and continued to publish it annually till about 1793. In, or about, the year 1766, he calculated an almanac for the meridian of Halifax, (Nova-Scotia); and continued to furnish annually the copy of an almanac calculated for that meridian, until near the close of his life in 1813, with the exception of a short period during the Revolutionary war. As early as 1766, he made some very accurate observations upon a comet that appeared that year, which he communicated to Professor Winthrop of Cambridge. The transit of Venus, which occurred on the 3d of June, 1769, and that of Mercury, which happened in November following, afforded him a favorable opportunity of establishing a more extended and permanent reputation, as a mathematician and astronomer. He published a tract on the transits of these planets; and also furnished a communication respecting them to the Royal Society of London. The reputation which he had by this time acquired led him to a correspondence with some of the most distinguished scientific men in the country, on various mathematical and astronomical subjects. In 1770 he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Harvard University. In 1770 he was unanimously elected a member of the American Academy of A?? Seiences, and received their diploma. He was also made an honorary member of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia. Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, he resumed the business of teaching a school, and continued in this employment till 1786, when he was elected Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in Brown University; but did not enter upon the actual discharge of the duties of his professorship, until 1788. During this interval, he officiated as Professor of Mathematics, in the Protestant Episcopal Academy at Philadelphia. Whilst here he enjoyed the society and friendship of the distinguished scientific men of that city; and among the number were Franklin and Rittenhouse. In 1788, he entered upon the duties of his professorship at Providence; and at the commencement, in 1792, the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him for his distinguished services in the cause of science. The duties of his professorship he continued to discharge, with equal credit to himself and advantage to the institution, till the year 1799, when he retired from a situation to which he had imparted honor. In 1802, Mr. West was appointed Post-master at Providence, which situation he filled till his death, that occurred August 13, 1813, in the 83d year of his age. Besides his observations on the transits of the planets, Mercury and Venus, Mr. West furnished several articles, which are to be found in the memoirs of the literary societies with which he was connected. He also left behind him many writings which he contemplated issuing from the press. He collected, with much expense, a library, containing many rare and valuable works in the several departments of science, to which he was passionately attached. His wife was Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Benjamin Smith of Bristol, R. I. He left one son and three daughters.--[Alden's Collection of Am. Epitaphs and Inscriptions, Vol. IV. p. 85, No. 689. Gazetteer of Connecticut and Rhode Island, by C. Pease and John M. Niles, Hartford, 1819.] -- Dale West e-mail: dwest@banet.net Visit West Family Genealogy http://www.westfamilygenealogy.com