Looking for some interesting people for 1876 timeline

On June 6, 1876, a meteorite strikes New Hampshire, square on Profile Lake, blasting a crater a mile in diameter out of the solid granite of the White Mountains and creating an explosion heard in New York by those with good ears. This is a regional catastrophe—not enough to cause a cold summer, but breaking windows 50-70 miles away, and creating a mushroom cloud some 16 miles high.

In the aftermath, there’s a lot of things happening nationwide as butterflies begin to flap. An explosion like this will have major effects on the national consciousness, and a lesser effect outside the USA and Canada.

I’ve got a lot figured out, but I’m looking for someone suitable to make waves in the south. (Blaine of Maine will win the nomination, then the 1876 election, meaning no corrupt bargain, meaning the troops don’t all leave the South just yet—reconstruction isn’t quite over.)

Who is both interesting, and has enough national status to be able to press for an end to reconstruction in exchange for voting support for more funding for astronomical research—quite a bit more funding. (It is concluded that the explosion was most likely a meteorite.)

So far, I’ve got the details for the first few days done, and the next week or so outlined.

(Would this be likely to butterfly Custer’s Last Stand on June 25?)
 
While not a political person, Percival Lowell is exactly the sort of person around which to base a TL with this sort POD.
 
good thoughts...

While not a political person, Percival Lowell is exactly the sort of person around which to base a TL with this sort POD.

He is just graduating in 1876, but in a few years, especially with astronomy being a more important science than in OTL, he's a great one to show up. Mark Twain is, too...a few quotes by him might be good :)
 
Another one I forgot who lived in my hometown area for a while is Daniel Kirkwood. He did a lot of research concerning the asteroid belt and would be very interested in a large impact event.

As for politicians I'm not too sure. Many wealthy people were still given a broad classical education and thus likely had interest in everything. It is very possible that some of them would be interested in astronomy.

Benjamin
 
Kirkwood--GREAT!

Considering that a meteorite could perhaps be an asteroid, and his theories concerning why the gap exists, that could be VERY important to the story/timeline! THANKS!
 
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