CORTIE, ALOVSIUS. – Jesuit, astronomer, b. in London on 22 April 1859, d. at Stonyhurst on 16 May 1925. From 1891 he was a member of the R. Astronomical Society; from 1896 to 1916 he taught physical and mathematical sciences at Stonyhurst College.
He took an active part in the work of the observatory of that same college, made famous by Fr. Stefano Perry, whose life he wrote (Father Perry F. R. S. the Jesuit Astronomer, London 1890). After Fr. W. Sidgreaves, C. himself became its director (1920–25). His personal contributions concern the relations between solar disturbances and those of terrestrial magnetism. Without attaining Fr. Perry’s scientific stature, Fr. C. nevertheless exerted a notable influence, also because of his gifts of exposition and his participation in international scientific life.