Percival Lowell was an American astronomer born in Boston Massachusetts on March 13th, 1855. He is most significantly known for initiating the search for a planet existing beyond the orbit of Neptune, ending with the introduction of Planet X in our solar system.
Previously to studying astronomy, he was devoted to literature and travel. He had been inspired by a lecture on Japan to travel to the Far East. He started his expedition in the East in Korea, where he served as a foreign secretary to the Korean Special Mission, which was the first diplomatic mission for Korea.
Starting his astronomy career in the 1890s, he began to devote himself to Mars, being inspired by Giovanni Schiaparelli's exposition of the "canals" on Mars, which hinted at the presence of water on another planet. This start was made a reality when Lowell built his very own private observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he could further examine his theories and observations. His Mars studies ended with his theory that there were intelligent life forms on Mars that constructed an irrigation system across the planet and created bands of cultivated vegetation that was solely dependent on the canals that carried water from the ice caps that melted every year. This theory wasn't disproved until the fly-by of Mariner 4 done in July of 1965.
Many health problems troubled Lowell throughout his life. At the age of 61, Percival Lowell died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 12, 1916. Although he was gone, he was not forgotten. Lowell had left behind a million dollar fund to aid in the search and discovery of Planet X, the planet which he had been searching for past the orbit of Uranus. The million dollar fund ultimately dissipated, for the widow of Lowell began fighting for the money through many law suits. Although the money was gone, the search never slowed.
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