Barker, Robert [FRAS] (1873-1966), professional musician, music composer and active lunar observer who befriended Patrick Moore. Baker formed an active group of eight lunar observers, ‘Mr Baker’s Circle’. He used a 12.6-inch, Calver reflecting telescope, the largest instrument in the group who circulated their observations amongst themselves. These also included planetary and solar observations (Obit., JBAA, 77 (1967), 147-8, McKim 2013, 147).
Beaufoy, Mark (1764–1827), astronomer and physicist (County of London page; ODNB).
Blair, Archibald (1752–1815), naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine. After an active career in the Far East he retired to Bayford, Hertfordshire in 1800, pursuing his interest in astronomy by designing an observatory and telescopes. Appointed director of works for the Porthleven Harbour in 1814, he was resident at Treleven when he died in 1815 whilst supervising the building of the new harbor wall at Porthleven (Wiki; Kennett 2016).
Church, Ella Katherine [FRAS] (1881-1948), born London, but later moved to Hemel Hempstead with parents. With independent means she was Jupiter and variable star observer, BAA Council Member and FRAS (1916-48). A protégée of the Rev. T. E. R. Phillips, but inactive after 1924 (A&G, 57 (2017), p.4.18).
Dickinson, John [FRAS] (1782-1869), privately educated he was apprenticed to the stationers Harrison and Richardson. In due course he was to become a rich and prominent industrialist in paper manufacture. With a wide range of interests, after retirement he developed his love of astronomy. Through his friendship with W.H. Smyth, he established an observatory at his home, Abbot’s Hill near to Hemel Hempstead. The well-equipped establishment housed a 6.3-inch refractor by Merz on an English type cross-axis mounting in a domed tower in the property (Obit., MNRAS, 30 (1870), 86-7; John Dickinson and Co. Ltd. 1896, 17).
Falconer, Rev. William [FRAS] (c.1803-1885), born Corston, Somerset, Falconer is recorded as Rector of the village of Bushey. He was elected a fellow of the RAS in 1872 but, did not submit any papers or observations (‘List of fellows elected’, MNRAS, (1872), 277; ‘Death of’, MNRAS, 45 (1885), 188; Kitton, Truman Press & Smith 1894).
Greg, Robert Philips [FRAS] (1826-1906), born Manchester into the Greg family of cotton industrialist in the city – see Quarry Bank Mill. First living at Outwood Lodge, near Prestwich, Greg subsequently moved to Coles Park, near Buntingford in 1871. He had a wide range of interest joining the Royal Geological (1853-1906) and Mineralogical Societies (1876-81), the Society of Antiquaries (1878-94), and the RAS (1868-81). He did not submit any observations or papers to the last learned society during his membership (Obit., Mineralogical Magazine, 14 (1906), 268-71)
Hodgson, William [FRS] (c.1747-1823), a gentleman of independent means owning a selection of telescopes. He used these from his observatory at his home at Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. Elected to the Royal Society he used a Herschel 7-foot reflector and corresponded with William Herschel on the observation of double stars (Obit., GentMag, 94 (1824 March), p.285; Hutton 1815, 129; Johnson 2021, 33).
Lax, William (1761-1836), astronomer, was presented to the living of St Ippollitts, near Stevenage where he built an observatory (see ODNB; Cambridgeshire & Buckinghamshire).
Knott, George (1835-1895), born at Bohun Lodge, East Barnet. A specialist variable star observer – See, his Cuckfield Observatory (see Sussex .
Parr, William Alfred [FRAS](1865-1936), born in Hampstead, London. Educated in both Britain & Germany and fluent in Italian, he followed a career in banking then re-trained to become a professional musician. With a life-long interest in astronomy, he was involved with the British Astronomical Association, as honorary librarian and president (1932-4) and was elected fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1913. Having retired to St Albans in 1927, he re-erected his observatory (originally at Hampstead, London) with a 4-inch Cooke refractor and 2-prism Evershed spectroscope – donated to St. Albans High School for girls (Obit., MNRAS, 59 (1936), 197; Obit., Obs, 97 (4), 279; Stroobant 1931).
Ward, Seth (1617-1689), born Buntingford, astronomer and bishop of Exeter and Salisbury (ODNB; see Oxfordshire).
Survey of Astronomical History 