Mansfield Merriman (March 27, 1848 – June 7, 1925) was an American civil engineer, born in Southington, Connecticut.
His research in hydraulics, bridges, strength of materials, and pure mathematics are important.
[2] Merriman's chief publications, many of them widely used as textbooks, are: In addition, he was editor-in-chief of the American Civil Engineers' Pocket Book (1911).
He published Recreations in Mathematics in 1917 under the pseudonym H. E. Licks, which included a story, "The Diaphote Hoax", a republication of a detailed newspaper report from February 10, 1880 which purported to describe the scientific demonstration of a device that transmitted images by electricity.
[1] The report is peppered throughout with scientific jokes including mentions of "Dr. H. E. Licks" ('helix'), "Prof. M. E. Kannick" ('mechanic'), "Col. A. D. A. Biatic" ('adiabatic'), and "Prof. L. M. Niscate" ('lemniscate').