Editing David Dunlap Observatory (section)

===Genesis===
[[File:David Dunlap Observatory Concept Sketch.jpg|thumb|Concept sketch of David Dunlap Observatory]]
The DDO owes its existence almost entirely to the efforts of [[Clarence Chant]].{{sfn|Fernie|2000}} Chant had not shown an early interest in astronomy, but while attending [[University College, University of Toronto]], he became interested in mathematics and [[physics]], eventually joining the university as a lecturer in physics in 1892.{{sfn|Russell|1999}} Over the next several years he worked as a schoolteacher and civil servant. During a later leave of absence he earned his PhD from [[Harvard University]] and did [[Postdoctoral researcher|postdoctoral work]] in Germany.{{sfn|Fernie|2000}}

Chant joined the Astronomical and Physical Society of Toronto in December 1892; it was renamed the [[Royal Astronomical Society of Canada]] in 1902. Chant became president of the Society, serving between 1904 and 1907.{{sfn|Russell|1999}} Throughout the 1890s, Chant was concerned about how little the university did for astronomy, and in 1904 he proposed adding several undergraduate courses for fourth-year students, and six such courses were added to the 1905 calendar.{{sfn|Russell|1999}}

With courses now officially on the books, Chant started looking for a proper telescope. Previously the university had hosted the [[Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory]], which had been run by the Meteorological Office of the [[Fisheries and Oceans Canada|Ministry of Marine and Fisheries]]. The observatory, built in 1840, had contained the high-quality {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} Cooke Refractor, but the Observatory was now surrounded by new university buildings, rendering it useless for astronomy. The Meteorological Office had already decided to abandon the site and turn the building over to the university, but they were taking the telescope to their new location at 315 [[Bloor Street]] West. Even if the university had been able to secure time on the instrument, which was highly likely, it was at this time quite a small instrument in comparison to those being built around the world.{{sfn|Russell|1999}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last= Beattie |first= Brian |year= 1982 |bibcode= 1982JRASC..76..109B |title= The {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} Cooke Refractor in Toronto |journal= [[Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada]] |volume= 76 |issue= 2 |pages= 109–128}}</ref>

The same problem of encroachment that had led to the observatory falling into disuse led Chant to conclude that there was no suitable location on the university grounds for a new observatory, and he started looking for off-campus sites. While looking, he started getting quotes for a new instrument from [[Warner & Swasey Company|Warner & Swasey]] in [[Cleveland]], Ohio, who had provided the mount for the recently opened [[Dominion Observatory]] in Ottawa. In 1910 Chant finally found a suitable location, a {{convert|10|acre|ha|adj=on}} plot of land near what is today [[Bathurst Street, Toronto|Bathurst Street]] and [[St. Clair Avenue]]. The land had originally been set aside by the city for the Isolation Hospital, but this was never constructed and it now lay empty. Chant convinced the city to become involved in the Royal Astronomical Observatory, but lack of funds and the outbreak of [[World War I]] put the project on hold, and in 1919 it was cancelled outright.{{sfn|Russell|1999}}