Ball, Sir Robert Stawell [FRAS] (1840-1913) Born in Dublin, graduated from Trinity College, Ball’s first involvement with practical astronomy when he was appointed tutor to the sons of Lord Rosse, where he had charge of the ‘Leviathan of Parsonstown’, Rosse’s giant 72-inch reflector. Later he was to become Ireland’s Astronomer Royal which coincided with his directorship of Dunsink Observatory and his position as Andrews Professor of Astronomy. He was at Dunsink from 1874 until 1892, when he applied for and obtained the position of Lowndean Professor of Astronomy at Cambridge. He lived at Cambridge observatory until his death in 1913 (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 75 (1915), 230-6; Obit.,Obs., 37 (1914), 35-41; Ruis-Castell 2004; Jones 2015a).
Copeland, Ralph [FRAS] (1837-1905), born Wood Plumpton, Lancashire, Astronomer Royal for Scotland. He was then appointed observer at Birr Castle for two years followed by time at Dunsink Observatory, Dublin (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 66 (1906), 164-74; see Midlothian; Offaly; Lancashire).
Ellison, Mervyn Archdall (1909-1963), appointed director of Dunsink Observatory, Dublin in 1958 (see Wexford; Midlothian; Dorset; Obit., QRAS, 5 (1964), 56-9). Erck, Wentworth (1827-91), born Dublin of Huguenot descent, he was educated at Rugby school and Trinity College, Dublin becoming magistrate for Co Wicklow. (see Wicklow Obit., MNRAS, 51 (1891), 194-6).
Erck, Wentworth (1827-91), born Dublin of Huguenot descent, he was educated at Rugby school and Trinity College, Dublin becoming magistrate for Co Wicklow. Developing an interest in astronomy from an early age he set up an observatory at his residence, Sherrington House in Bray near to Dublin. Here used a 7.5-inch refractor by Alvan Clark, formerly owned by Rutter Dawes, Frederick Brodie, and Charles L Prince. It was, mainly used to observe the Sun, planets along with double stars, with his observations being published. On his death the instrument passed to W.H.S. Monck (Obit., MNRAS, 51 (1891), 194-6; Elliott 1993).
Molesworth, John (1789-1858) [Commander; FRAS], younger brother of the 7th Viscount Molesworth of Swords in the County of Dublin. Molesworth joined the Royal Navy, serving in the West Indies and the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. Retiring in 1829 he joined joining the Astronomical Society of London, 1823-5 (Phillipps 2023).
Mitchell, A.E. (fl. 1905-1907), residing Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland, a meteor and variable star observer using a 1 ¾-inch refractor and 7-inch reflector (Stroobant 1907, 76; Reports of the Observing Sections, JBAA, 15 (1905), 370).
Monck, William Henry Stanley [FRAS](1839-1915) a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, a barrister, in 1878 he became Professor of Moral Philosophy there. A keen amateur astronomer, he had a fine 7.5-inch refractor with object glass by Alvan Clark previously owned by W.R. Dawes. He was a close friend of J. Ellard Gore. and made photoelectric observations of Jupiter and Venus, and then developed a system for measuring the relative brightness of binary stars (JBAA, 123, 2 (2013), 91-2) from his observatory at Earlsfort Terrace (Obit., MNRAS, 76 (1916), 264 ).
Proctor, Mary [FRAS] (1862-1957), born Dublin, the daughter of Richard and Mary Proctor, who graduated from the London College of Preceptors in 1898. Immigrating to the United States in 1882, she assisted her father proofreading his work before developing her own career as a populariser of astronomy, particularly for a younger audience. She was both a member of the BAA and fellow of the RAS (WIKI; Trimble 2022, 6).
Robinson, Thomas Romney [FRAS] (1793 – 1882), born Dublin, educated Belfast Academy and Trinity College, Dublin. Director of Armagh Observatory (1823-82) which he developed into one of the foremost institutions in Ireland (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 43 (1883), 181-3).
Whittaker, Sir Edmund Taylor [FRAS] (1873-1956), born at 7 Virginia Street, Southport. Educated at Manchester Grammar School, then Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating second wrangler in 1895. In 1906 he was appointed Professor of Astronomy in the University of Dublin, Royal astronomer of Ireland, and Director of Dunsink Observatory. He concentrated on his lectures in the university, and in 1912 was elected to the chair of mathematics in Edinburgh. At Dunsink he had also worked to achieve satisfactory photometry of stars using the photographic capability of the 15-inch Roberts telescope, work that was continued by Plummer and Martin. Accurate light curves for bright variable stars were derived, and this assisted Eddington in Cambridge to develop his theory of stellar structure (ODNB; Obit, MNRAS, 117 (1956), 256-7 ).
Survey of Astronomical History 