Abney, Sir William Wiveleslie [FRS; FRAS] (1843-1920), born Derby, civil servant and photographic scientist who was commissioned as a lieutenant at the Royal Academy, Woolwich. Through his career in the Royal Engineers, he gained considerable knowledge and experience of astronomy working with the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, being involved with the photography of the 1874 and 1882 transits of Venus. Active in the RAS with respect to the development of photographic emulsions, he was elected a fellow in 1870 (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 81 (1921), 250-4; Stroobant 1907, 130).
Airy, George Biddell (1801-92), born Alnwick, Northumberland, educated Trinity College, Cambridge, professor and director of the Cambridge Observatory 1826-35. The well-known inefficiency of the Royal Observatory stimulated Airy to make Cambridge an exemplar – producing first class observations and reducing and publishing them each year. He thereby became the only candidate to succeed Pond. Airy was seventh Astronomer Royal 1835-81. He reformed the staffing, took Cambridge high wranglers as Chief Assistants, restricted the Observatory to public utility-meridian observations reduced by schoolboy computers using standard forms, published the year’s observations each year, and designed and in 1850 installed a huge 8-foot transit circle with automatic recording. Bradley had achieved an accuracy of 1″ Dec. and about 1/6th of a second in RA, Airy’s transit achieved and accuracy of hundredths of an arc second. Airy left all extra-meridian work and ‘astronomical physics’ to the Grand Amateurs, insisted that Presidents of the RAS should be practical astronomers and fought to maintain the Society’s standards. His reputation with some contemporaries was marred as being ‘the man who failed to find Neptune’, but that should not detract from his wider achievements. An engineer, not himself an observer, he led the ROG to a world leadership position in astronomy, and ignored the chaffing of his critics (see ODNB; Suffolk); Northumberland; Cambridgeshire.
Aubert, Alexander (bap. 1730, d. 1805), born in London and educated at Cheam Academy, Surrey, before spending the rest of his childhood in Genoa in Italy. Here, the Great Comet of 1744 inspired his interest in astronomy. A career as a successful merchant, becoming director of the London Assurance Company, allowed him to pursue his interests in astronomy, establishing two observatories in Deptford and Highbury, both London (ODNB; Lynn 1900) – see Aubert’s Observatory below.
Babbage, Charles (1791–1871), born London. Mathematician and computer pioneer he was involved in establishment of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1820. Babbage occupied various roles in the society (secretaries, 1820–4 &, 2 7-9; vice president, 1824 25 and was awarded their gold medal in 1824 for his calculating engine (ODNB).
Baring, Alexander [Lieutenant; FRAS] (1810-1830), 4th son of Alexander Baring (1st Baron Ashburton) and member of the famous banking family. He served in the Royal Navy, dying, aged only 21 on HMS Alfred in the Mediterranean, off Napoli di Romania (Nafplio), Greece. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1831 (Phillipps 2023).
Barrow, Francis [FRAS] (1821-1889), born Margate, Kent, he grew up in Cranbrook in the same county. Graduating from oxford University in 1841, Barrow trained as a lawyer at Lincolns Inn and was called to the Bar in 1844. Living in Cranbrook, an interest in astronomy was stimulated by his friendship with W.R. Dawes who lived nearby at this time. Later, he erected an observatory at the rear of his London home at 3 Phillimore Gardens, Kensington. After joining the RAS in 1870, he served as its treasurer from 1878 to 1884 (see Kent; Obit., MNRAS, 49 (1889), 157).
Bayly, William (1737-1810), born at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes (see Hampshire; ODNB).
Beaufort, Sir Francis (1774-1857) [Capt.; FRS], born Nevan, Co.Meath, Ireland, where he was educated before going away to sea, first with the East India Company then the Royal Navy. He saw much action during the Napoleonic Wars and was later a naval hydrographer. He is however, better known for the wind scale that he devised. Retiring with the rank of Rear Admiral, he served on the Board of Visitor of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, a member of the Astronomical Society of London, and the activities of the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 18 (1858), 93-8; Phillipps 2023).
Beaufoy, George [Lt. Col.; FRAS] (1796-1864), son of Col. Mark Beaufoy, he joined the Royal Navy in 1810 as a midshipman. By 1821 he was appointed Lieutenant and posted to Halifax Nova Scotia, continuing in naval service until 1851. He subsequently took over the family’s London vinegar business. He was elected a fellow of the Astronomical Society of London, 1828, submitting observations and donating his father’s observatory instruments to the society (‘Bio. Notes’, MNRAS, 16 (1856), 64; Phillipps 2023).
Beaufoy, Mark [Col.] (1764–1827), astronomer and physicist, was born Lambeth, London. He was taught by William Bayly, who probably instilled his lifelong interest in mathematics and astronomy. Between 1795 and 1815 he made observations from Hackney Wick and then from Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire from 1818-1827 both using the same five-foot Dollond refractor. The latter observations were of the satellites of Jupiter which were published by the Royal Astronomical society (ODNB; Phillips 2023).
Becher, Alexander Bridport [Commander; FRAS] (1796-1876), son of Capt. Alexander Becher, he started his naval career as a midshipman in 1812. By 1817 he was involved in the survey of the Canadian lake with Commodore E.W.C.R. Owen and Capt. W.E. Owen. Becher also served under Capt. Basil Hall as a Lieutenant in 1822. Later employed by the Admiralty Hydrographic Office, he corresponded with the Astronomer Royal, John Pond. He contributed a paper to the RAS on the design of artificial horizons. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1830-31 (Obit., MNRAS, 37 (1877), 145-7; Phillipps 2023).
Beechey, Frederick William (1796-1856) [Capt.; FRS; FRAS], son of the artist Sir William Beechey, he joined the Royal Navy in 1806. Beechey served off Africa and the North America during the Napoleonic Wars. Later he was involved in survey voyages in Greenland (1819) and the Mediterranean (1821-2) under John Frankin and W.H. Smyth respectively. Elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1824, he joined the Astronomical Society of London, 1823-5. In 1854 he was promoted to a Rear-Admiral (Obit., MNRAS, 17 (1857), 93-5; Phillipps 2023).
Besley, Walter Ernest [FRAS] (1877-1908), born Tiverton, Devon, educated at Heavitree College, Exeter. A civil servant his brief career was spent in London. An observer of variable stars and meteors from ‘The Chase’, 75 Clapham Common, London, he was an active in the BAA, heading the Meteor Section. He became a fellow of the RAS in 1902 contributing a resume of Geminid meteor observations to the Observatory before illness cut his life short at the age of 27 (Obit., MNRAS, 66 (1906), 162-3; Obit., JBAA, 15 [9] (1905), p.376; Stroobant 1907, 130).
Bethan John [Capt.; FRAS] (1787-1834), employed in the East India Service (Navy) from 1808. A capable officer, he served in India for 27 years, he was dismissed after a dispute with Sir Charles Malcom – Trial of Captain John Betham, 1829. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1830-31 (Obit, MNRAS, 3 (1835), 85; Phillipps 2023).
Bishop, George (1785-1861), born Leicester, wine merchant and astronomer who established an observatory at his home (ODNB) – see Bishop’s Regent Park Observatory.
Blake, Benjamin (fl.1809-34) [Capt.; FRS; FRAS], captain in the service of East India Company in Bengal, who undertook survey in their Indian territories. He also made meteorological measurements from 1809. He joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821 and was elected to the Royal Society in 1830. His London address is listed as the Oriental Club in Hanover Square (Phillipps 2023).
Blanshard, Thomas (1789-1859) [Col.], an officer with the royal engineers he spent most of his career in Bermuda in command of the island’s fortifications – surname often spelt Blanchard. Inventor of a pontoon bridge, he was responsible for the extension of the Royal Artillery Institute Observatory, Woolwich (1852-3), when annex for an equatorial telescope was added. He joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821 (Guillery 2012; Phillipps 2023).
Bliss, Nathanial [Revd.] (1700-64), fourth Astronomer Royal 1762-64, held office insufficient time to make an impact (see ODNB; Gloucestershire).
Boteler, Thomas [Commander; FRAS] (c.1797-1829), joining the Royal Navy in 1810 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant conducting surveys around Africa and Tenerife with W. F. Owen. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1828, but succumbed to Yellow Fever in the following year off West Africa (‘Bio notes’, MNRAS, 2 (1831), 11; Phillipps 2023).
Bradley, James (1693-1762), born Surrey – His observations using a 12½-foot zenith sector at Pond’s Observatory, Wanstead, Essex, between 1725 and 1747 led him to discover aberration and nutation. Appointed third Astronomer Royal 1742-62, he ordered an 8-foot brass mural quadrant and 8-foot transit by John Bird. This transit defined the Greenwich meridian from 1750 to 1816. In 1750 these instruments and Bradley’s zenith sector were mounted in a new observatory building. He began a catalogue of some 60,000 stars and achieved unprecedented accuracy. This was due in part to his devising improvements to instruments – improving Flamstead’s micrometers, obtaining better pendulum regulators for time, and having the quadrants made of one metal, brass, but especially to his identifying and correcting for instrument error (his new standard of observing method), observer error, temperature, and applying corrections for aberration and nutation to the reduction. Thus he achieved an accuracy to 1 arc second in declination and 1/6th of a second of time in RA., an improved accuracy for declination measurements of 60-fold compared to Tycho, and 10-fold since Flamstead in 1690. Bradley by these means made a crucial contribution to reforming useful astronomy, and established the ROG’s enduring reputation. It was this standard of accuracy, when applied after 1771 to observing the orbit of newly discovered Uranus, revealed its perturbations, and led in 1846 to the sensational prediction by le Verrier and discovery of Neptune (see Gloucestershire; Surrey; Essex; Oxfordshire; Chapman 1993b; ODNB Fisher 2022.
Bradley, John (1728-1794), nephew of James Bradley, was appointed assistant to his uncle at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1742. (see Hampshire; Kennett 2015).
Breen, James (1826–1866), FRAS, son of Hugh Breen, English astronomer, was born in Ireland and died at his home in Nunhead, London, aged only 40. An active observer at the Cambridge Observatory from 1846, he left the observatory in 1858, soon after observing Donati’s comet. For an excellent biographical sketch see lan Seymour, AN (Aug. 2001), p.74.
Browne, Henry (1754-1830), astronomer who assisted Captain Kater and Edward Sabine in their experiments in magnetism and pendulums. Established an observatory at his home at 2 Portland Place (‘Deaths’, Gent Mag, 147 (1830), p.571) – see Browne’s Observatory.
Browning, John [FRAS] (1835-1925), born London, he first trained for the medicine, but due to poor health worked with his father in the mathematical instrument trade. Due to competition from maker at the ports of Liverpool and Glasgow, browning refocused his wares to that of the scientist – optical instruments. With an interest in astronomy he championed the reflecting telescope and spectroscope, publishing on both topics – retiring from business in 1900 (Obit., MNRAS, 90 (1930), 359-62; Webster; Grace’s Guide).
Butler, Charles Pritchard (1871-1952), Career in Solar Physics Observatory, London & Cambridge as Senior Assistant Observer 1889-1937, also a Director of BAA Solar Section (see Warwickshire; Obit., MNRAS, 113 (1953), p.294).
Butt, James Strode (c.1749-1826), thought to be a merchant, with an interest in astronomy and a reputation for developing astronomical instruments. It is recorded that he had an observatory, probably housing meridian instruments, at his home, ‘The Paragon’ off the Old Kent Road, Southwark (Hutton, 1815, 129; Johnson, 2021, 34).
Capron, John Rand (1829-1888), born on 19th February in King Street (now Rufus Street), Hoxton Square, Shoreditch London. (See Surrey).
Carpenter, James (1840-1899) born in Greenwich, was a professional astronomer at the Royal Observatory for 18 years. From 1867 he was responsible to Airy for the ‘Physical Astronomy’ at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, making spectroscopic observations. Colleague and co-author with James Nasmyth (1874) of The Moon: Considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite. Their ‘volcanic fountain’ theory of crater formation was deeply flawed (Leatherbarrow 2013).
Christie, William Henry Mahoney (1845-1922), born at Woolwich, educated at Cambridge, became chief Assistant at Greenwich in 1870 – eighth Astronomer Royal (1881-1910). He modernised the Observatory, adopted aspects of astrophysics, founded The Observatory Magazine and attracted the gift of the Thompson and Yapp telescopes. An excellent obituary by H.H. Turner paints vivid picture of the ROG being on the verge of stagnation in a fast moving international context for astronomy, and the difference that Christie made (see Observatory (March 1922), 77-81, available on-line). Christie engaged with astrophysics, built the new Physical Observatory, and attracted the donation of the Thompson double telescopes. Turner credits him with reasserting the link between mathematics and astronomy by bringing high wranglers in to the Chief Assistant posts, to the great long-term benefit of British astronomy (ODNB; Cambridgeshire.
Clerke, Thomas Henry Shadwell [Major; FRAS; FGS] (1792-1849), born Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, he was educated at the Royal Military College, Marlow – now at Sandhurst. Serving in the Napoleonic Wars he fought in the Peninsular Campaigns, where he lost a leg. He was active in several learned societies and the United Service Institute. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1831 (Obit, MNRAS, 10 (1850), 79; Phillipps 2023).
Cockburn, Sir Geroge [Admiral; FRAS] (1772-1853), born Middlesex, Cockburn attended the Royal Navigational School in Old Burlington Street, London. He was a captain’s servant aged 9 before going to sea properly in 1786 and was later appointed lieutenant on HMS Victory in 1793. During the Napoleonic Wars he served in the Mediterranean and in the Americas during the War of 1812 – involved with the burning of the White House. Cockburn later joined the Astronomical Society of London, 1828-31 (ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Coles, John [FRAS; FRGS] (1833-1910), born London, Coles joined the Royal Navy aged 14, serving until 1857 when he immigrated to British Columbia where he took up gold mining and farming. Returning to England in 1877 he was appointed map curator at the Royal Geographical Society where he ran a course on field astronomy and survey. He was elected a fellow of the RAS in1880, and published the handbook Hints to travellers (Obit., MNRAS, 71 (1911), 255-6).
Corry, Armar Lowry (1793-1855) [Capt.; FRAS], born at County Fermanagh he was the son of 1st Earl Belmore of Castle Coole. Corry joined the Royal Navy in 1805 and saw service during the Napoleonic Wars and later during the Crimean conflict. Reaching the rank of Rear Admiral he joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821 (Phillipps 2023).
Cowell, Philip Herbert (1870-1949), born 7 August in Calcutta, India to a father from Ipswich and mother from Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Educated privately in Stoke Poges (1881-3), then as a ‘Kings Scholar’ at Eton School (1884-9), where he won the Tomline Prize for mathematics. This prize was endowed by George Tomline of Orwell Park (see Tomline entry on Suffolk page ). Cowell graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge (1889–92) as ‘Senior Wrangler’, having worked on celestial mechanics, then elected as a Fellow of the College in 1894. Appointed as ‘Second Chief Assistant’ at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1895 and (see London page) elected as a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1896. Later in 1906 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society for his work on lunar theory. In 1910 Cowell was appointed as ‘Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac Office’ and then in At the precise (to the hour) age of sixty he retired from employment in 1930 and lived in Aldeburgh up until his death on 6 June 1949.(see Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society, 6 (18) Nov. 1949, 375-84) & Obit MNRAS, 110 (2) 1950, 125-8); (ODNB) – see Suffolk page.
Coventry, John (1735-1812), born in Southwark, London. He was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, who appears to have consulted him on questions connected with electrical apparatus. He was the inventor of a new hygrometer, more accurate than any which had been previously in use. He is known to have made a 12-foot refracting telescope which he used to observe the 1769 transit of Venus (ODNB).
Creswick, George Strickland [FRAS] (1836-1916), born in Dorset he was educated King’s School, Sherborne. Due to financial constraints, he did not attend university and was found a position as a computer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, joining in 1852. On the recommendations of Airy he was then transferred to the University Observatory, Cambridge as assistant under Challis. In this role he was involved in Airy’s Pendulum experiment at Harton Colliery, Cornwall. In 1855 he returned to the ROG, taking up the position of junior assistant observing with the transit circle in conjunction with William Ellis for the next 26 years. Later serving in the time, astrographic, and magnetic department he retired in 1896 aged 60 (Obit., MNRAS, 77 (1917), 293-5; RGO).
Crommelin, Andrew Claude de la Cherois [Dr; FRAS] 1865-1939) born at Cushendun, Ulster in Ireland (see Antrim; ODNB; Obit., Obs, 63 [1940], 11-13).
Crozier, Francis Rowdon Moira [Capt.; FRAS] (1796-c.1848), born county Down, Ireland he joined the Royal Navy in 1810. On an early voyage to the South Seas, he encountered some of the surviving mutineers from HMS Bounty. Later journeys included Arctic and Antarctic expeditions under Sir James Ross and Capt. John Franklin. The latter proved fatal for Crozier, during Franklin’s ill-fated search for the North West Passage. He was elected a fellow of the Astronomical Society of London, 1825-8 (Phillipps 2023).
Crosthwait, Joseph (1681-1719), chief assistant at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, with Abraham Sharp, completed the publication of Flamsteed’s Historica Coelestis…. after his death (Forbes 1975).
Dawes, William Rutter [Revd.] (1799-1868), born Christ’s Hospital school, London. He, trained as a doctor before becoming an Independent minister, in Ormskirk. By 1828 he befriended Lassell in Liverpool and observed with him. Although short-sighted himself, he was gifted with exceptionally keen eyesight at the telescope, which he complemented by great skill and persistence in observing method, earning the title ‘eagle-eyed’. Alvan Clark greatly valued his opinion and the recommendation of his object glasses., he specialised in extremely precise micrometrical observations of double stars, 222 between 1831 and 1838 at his own observatories, another 250 when an assistant at Bishop’s Observatory (1839-44), working the 7-inch Dollond Observatory. He also observed planets, discovered Saturn’s crepe or C ring in 1850. Always dogged by poor health, Dawes again exerted himself for the very favourable opposition of Mars in 1864 and drew the best-to-date map. He was awarded the RAS Gold Medal in 1855. He was a very close friend of John Herschel and his family, and for some years they lived near each other in Kent (see Bucks; Kent; Lancashire ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 29 (1868), 116-20; Denning 1913).
Davidson, Martin [Revd.] (1880-1968), born Armagh, Northern Ireland. Studying mathematics he specialised in orbital dynamics and thence the orbits of meteors at Queens University, Belfast before entering the church. After various posting around England he was appointed vicar in Canning Town, London in 1925 which he held until retirement in 1953. Joining both the British Astronomical Association (1911), president (1936-8), and the Royal Astronomical Society (1914), he observed with a 4-inch refractor and 12-inch reflector (see Armagh; Obit. Irish Astronomical Journal, 9, 170; Obit., JBAA, 79 [3] (1969), 246; Stroobant 1931).
De la Rue, Warren (1815-89), established an observatory (1849-57) at Canonbury, then Cranford (1857-73) – see Middlesex page.
Dennett, Frank Compton (1857-1926), lived in Hackney (1891-1926), insurance agent, science/astronomical writer and lecturer (see Hampshire).
Doig, Peter [FRAS] (1882-1952), born Glasgow, trained as a ship’s draughtsman, working in Shanghai before ill-heath forced his return to Britain in 1918. At this time he took up astronomy joining both the BAA and RAS becoming active in each society. His main interest lay in stellar astronomy, using his considerable knowledge he contributed to Splendour of the Heavens. Later he published on stellar astronomy (1947) and the history of astronomy (1950). Living in London he observed with a 3-inch refractor and 5-inch reflector (Stroobant 1931; Obit., JBAA, 63 (1953), 76-7; Obit., MNRAS, 113 (1953), 304-5)..
Dollond [Huggins], George [FRS; FRAS] (1774-1852), born London, nephew to the famous optician Peter Dollond. He joined the Dollond business, on death of John Dollond in 1805, adopting the family name. With an interest in astronomy, he developed a crystal micrometer, was a founder member of the Royal Astronomical Society and was elected to the Royal Society (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 13 (1853), 110-1; Rudd 1998).
Dolmage, Cecil Goodricke Julius [FRAS] (1870-1908), born Naples, his early education was received in Ipswich and he later gained an MA and LLD from Trinity College, Dublin. He then took up a career in law, first in Dublin and later in London, but also pursued his interest in astronomy, owning a 6-inch reflector. Elected a fellow of the RAS in 1898, however, his greater love lay in the history of the subject, publishing Astronomy of Today, shortly before his premature death (Obit., MNRAS, 68 (1909), p.245; Stroobant 1907, 131).
Downes, Henry [Commander; FRAS] (1791-1852), joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1805, attaining the rank of Lieutenant by 1813. During the Napoleonic Wars he saw action in the Dutch West Indies and in the Baltic. Later he was involved with the suppression of the slave trade off the African coast. He was involved with the formation of the United Service Institute – honorary director. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1831 (Phillipps 2023).
Drinkwater (Bethune), Charles Ramsay (1802-1884) [Capt.; FRAS], son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Drinkwater he joined the Royal Navy in 1815. He had commands in Australia and the Far East in the 1830s and 40s, becoming Hydrographer to the Admiralty in 1846. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825, contributing papers on longitude determination, observations of occultations and a comet. In 1851 he became the Laird of Balfour and was promoted to Admiral in 1866 – Drinkwater Bethune from 1837 (Phillipps 2023).
Drummond, Thomas [Lieutenant; FRAS] (1797-1840), graduated from Woolwich College and joined the Royal Engineers on the trigonometric Survey of the Scottish Highlands. Drummond was involved with Ordnance Survey of Ireland where he developed and improved form of illumination – ‘Drummond Light’. A Whig supporter, he was appointed Under-Secretary for Ireland in 1835. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1830 (Phillipps 2023).
Dundas, Sir Robert Lawrence (1780-1844) [FRS], commissioned into the British army as an engineering officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant. During the Napoleonic Wars he served in the Low Countries, Eygpt and in the Peninsular War (1818-14), reaching the rank of Lieutenant-General. Later he served as a Whig MP on several occasions (1807-41) and was a founder member of Astronomical Society of London and was elected to the Royal Society in 1831 (Obit., MNRAS, 7 (1846), 47-8; Phillipps 2023).
Duke of Clarence, William Henry [later William IV; FRAS] (1765-1837), brother to George IV (Prince Regent) Clarence joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman as a youth. He was present at the battle of Cape St Vincent (1780) and also served in the western theatres during the American War of Independence. Clarence joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1828, and after acceding to the throne in 1830, granted the society its royal charter (ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
D’Urban, William (c.1771-1837) [Capt.; FRAS], from an ancient family he joined the Royal Navy and quickly gained promotion being a Lieutenant by 1790. He saw action in both the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars in the Mediterranean theatre. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825 and was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1835 (Phillipps 2023).
Dyson, Frank Watson (1868-1939), born Measham, Leicestershire, educated in Yorkshire then Trinity, Cambridge. The ninth Astronomer Royal (1910-33), a noted eclipse observer and expert on the solar corona, in 1924 he inaugurated the wireless broadcast of accurate GMT by wireless ‘pips’. Dyson rose to the great opportunity of the 1919 eclipse to prove Einstein’s theory, and succeeded (see ODNB; Leicestershire).
Ebdon, John (1923-2005), He was introduced to astronomy at a young age by his childhood nanny whose enthusiasm for the subject far exceeded her observational abilities. John continued this interest that he learnt for her for the rest of his life. Following an extremely unhappy Public School education John served in the Second World War in the Royal Air Force. He was caught in the blast of an explosion and his eyes were permanently injured. He was thus not able to taken up his chosen profession of theatre actor as he was unable to cope with the bright theatre lights. Post-war he spent five years working in Kenya, connected with big game hunting and wildlife. John was firstly Narrator (1960) and then Director (1968) of the London Planetarium which was located adjacent to Madame Tussauds Waxwork Museum on Baker Street. In 1963 John wrote 94 page book entitled “Teach Your Child about the Stars”. John had a second life as a broadcaster for 26 years on BBC Radio 4 presenting a programme of archive material. He would begin with “How do you do” and finish with “If you have been, thank you for listening”. In order to avoid being prosecuted when broadcasting material of a controversial nature Ebdon would attribute the thoughts to his cat ‘Perseus’. When ‘Perseus’ died in 1978 it made the national news (ODNB).
Ellis, William [FRAS] (1828-1916), born Greenwich and educated at local schools Ellis joined the staff of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich as a temporary computer aged 13. Working on the reduction of earlier observations (1750-1830) he transferred to main observatory in 1848 when the was completed. He then took up the position of observer at Durham University Observatory in 1852 – replacing Richard Carrington. In 1853 Ellis then returned to the ROG being employed in various role including, Airy’s Pendulum experiment at Harton Colliery, Cornwall. He gained considerable experience in magnetic and meteorological observations becoming the head of the department when James Glaisher left the observatory in 1874. Ellis retired from the ROG in 1896 aged 65 (Obit., MNRAS, 77 (1917), 295-9; RGO).
Evans, Lewis [Revd.] (1755-1827), born Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, studied at Merton College, Oxford in 1774, but left without a degree. Ordained and appointed as curate first in Ashbury then Compton, both in Berkshire and lastly at Froxfield, Wiltshire. In 1799 was appointed first mathematical master at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich which he held until 1820. During the latter part of his life he turned to astronomy and he possessed several valuable instruments and was a skilful and successful observer, having his own private observatory on Woolwich Common. He was elected fellows of both the Royal Society (1823) and the Royal Astronomical Society (ODNB; Taylor 1966, 286 [710a]).
Evans, Thomas Simpson (1776/7-1818), born Monmouthshire, Wales, the eldest son of Lewis Evan (1755-1827). He was appointed assistant to Nevil Maskelyne at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Later he became observer for William Larkins at his private observatory at Blackheath, London. On the death of his employer, he gained the post of master teaching at Royal Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital, London. Here he utilised the observatory established by William Wales (ODNB; Taylor 1966, 337 [961]).
Everest, Sir George (1790-1866) [Capt.; FRS; FRAS], born Brecon, Wales, Everest was educated at the Royal Military College, Marlow, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He then joined the East India Company in 1806 and was attached to the Bengal Artillery doing survey work in Java. Later in 1818 he became chief assistant to the Great Trigonometric Survey, which traversed India into the Himalayas – a 25-year task. It is however, the peak that bears his name, the highest in the world, that Everest is now remembered due to his survey work. He then became Surveyor General of India (1830-4) before returning to England. Later, the Royal Geographical Society named Peak XV in his honour in 1865, despite Everest’s objections – difficult to pronounce by Hindi speakers. Reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he joined the Astronomical Society of London, 1823-5 (Obit., MNRAS, 27 (1867), 105-8; ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Fisher, George [Rev.; FRS; FRAS] (1794-1873), born Sunbury, Middlesex, son of a surveyor. In 1808 he became a clerk in an insurance company at the age of 14. The encouragement of Humphrey Davy and other scientist allowed Fisher to enter St Catherine’s College, Cambridge in 1817. On the recommendation of the Royal Society, he was then appointed as one of two astronomers on the ad miralty Arctic Expedition of 1818. His role was to take observations for the determination of the Earth’s shape, the results of which were presented, and well received. Fisher again travelled with the Royal Navy expedition to discover the Northwest Passage. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1825 and then to the Royal Astronomical Society in 1827. He became a headmaster of the Royal Hospital School at Greenwich in 1834 and supervised the planning and construction of an observatory. Some of his astronomical observations were presented at the Royal Astronomical Society, including the transit of Mercury on the 5th May 1832 (Fisher, G., MNRAS, 2 [14] (1832), p.111). Fisher retired to Rugby, Warwickshire in 1863 where he lived until his death (see Middlesex; Warwickshire; Obit., MNRAS, 34 (1874), 140-4; ODNB).
Fison, Arthur Henry [Dr; FRAS] (1857-1923), born Hendon, after taking his degree he became an Oxford University Extension lecturer. His talks on the sciences covered a wide range of subjects including astronomy. Later he appointed physics lecturer at Guy’s Hospital where he worked for the rest of his life. He is known for his authorship of Recent Advances in Astronomy that was published in 1898 (Obit., MNRAS, 84 (1924), 214-5; see Middlesex).
Fitzgerald de Roos, John Frederick (1804-1861) [Capt.; FRS; FRAS], the son of the retired Lieutenant-Colonel, Lord Henry Fitzgerald, he joined the Royal Navy in 1818. Posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada he published an account of his travels in North America. Promoted to Captain in 1835, he retired as a Rear-Admiral in 1857. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825 and was elected to the Royal Society in 1831 (Phillipps 2023).
FitzRoy, Robert [Commander; FRAS] (1805-1865), born Ampton Hall, Suffolk, he was educated at Rottingdean and Harrow School. After attending the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, he joined the Royal Navy in 1819. By 1828 he was appointed flag-lieutenant for the South American Station on HMS Ganges. Later, FitzRoy undertook hydrographic work on HMS Beagle, later taking permanent command. He now remembered as the commander of the same vessel during a later survey, in 1831, which included Charles Darwin. The inclusion of Darwin was on the suggestion of Sir Francis Beaufort. The voyage to the Galapagos Islands, around South America and Australasia brought about Darwin’s ideas on evolution. Later, he became a meteorologist, pioneering weather forecasting before committing suicide. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1831 (ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Flamstead, John (1646-1720), born Derbyshire – first Astronomer Royal (1675-1720), his catalogue of 2,935 tripled the catalogue of Tycho Brahe. He had a 7-foot iron equatorial sextant by Edmund Silvester and Thomas Tompion, two Tompion clocks, and a 3-foot wooden quadrant. These were barely adequate, but provided the data for Newton to derive his refraction tables, and enabled Newton to formulate his theory of lunar motion for Principia (1687). In 1689 an inheritance from his father enabled Flamstead to obtain a 7-foot mural arc by Abraham Sharp. Flamstead’s new observations (see ODNB); Derbyshire).
Forbes, George [FRAS] (1849-1936), born Edinburgh, educated at Edinburgh Academy then St Andrews University and Christ/St Catherine Colleges, Cambridge. Better known as an electrical engineer and inventor he was skilled in astronomy. He was the lead astronomer at the Hawaii substation for the British 1874 transit of Venus expedition. First based in Scotland after 1880 Forbes moved to London. He wrote and lectured widely on astronomy, its history and predicted a trans-Neptunian planet. He had an observing platform built at his small wooden country retreat, ‘The Shed’ in Pitlochry, Scotland (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 97 (1937), 269-70; Stroobant 1907, 131).
Foster, Samuel (c.1600-1652), born in the Midlands where he was educated and then attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge and taught in Coventry. Later he became Gresham Professor of Astronomy in London where he wrote his seminal work sundials, The Art of Dialling. An observational astronomer he worked with John Twysden, his brother Walter Foster and Nathaniel Nye of Coventry (see Warwickshire; ODNB; Frost 2006a).
Fotheringham, John Knight [Dr.; FRAS] (1874-1936), born Tottenham, London, educated at City of London School and graduated from Merton College, Oxford (younger brother of Rev. D R Fotheringham). It was through his academic career (Oxford & London) as an historian that his interest in astronomy grew. He studied ancient historical eclipses to derive orbital elements for the Moon (Obit., MNRAS, 97 (1937), p.270).
Fowler, Alfred (1868-1940), born Wilsden, Yorkshire. Educated at the Normal School of Science (later Imperial College). He was assistant and later professor working with Sir Norman Lockyer. An expert spectroscopist, he proved that sunspots are cooler than the surrounding gas (see Yorkshire: North Riding; ODNB).
Franklin, Sir John (1786-1847) [Rear-Admiral; FRS; FRAS], born Spilsby, Lincolnshire, Franklin was educated at Louth Grammar School. He went to sea on a merchant ship aged 12 and joined the Royal Navy in 1800. During the Napoleonic Wars he saw action at both Copenhagen and at Trafalgar on HMS Bellerophon. With peace he was involved with voyages to Australia and Cananda. Franklin however, is best known for his voyages in North America and his ill-fated expedition to locate the Northwest Passage. Reaching the rank of Rear-Admiral, he joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1823-5 (Obit., MNRAS, 15 (1855), 120-1; ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Freeman, Alexander (1838-1897) born in Blackheath (Wonersch), Surrey (see Cambridgeshire).
Frend, William [MA, FRAS] (1757-1841), born Canterbury, Kent who later lived in London after his expulsion from the University of Cambridge. Known as an agitator for political reform, he also had an interest in astronomy, authoring ‘Evening Amusements, or the Beauty of the Heavens Displayed’, a monthly guide to the night sky published annually from 1804 to 1822 (see Cambridgeshire; ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 5 (1842), 144-51; Wiki).
Fry, Henry Reginald [FRAS] (1876-1950), born Stamford Hill, London graduated in Science from King’s College, Cambridge. He was a partner in Barclay & Fry, tin-box manufacturers. Through his interest in astronomy he acquired an 8-inch Cooke equatorial refractor that he donated to the newly established University of London Observatory at Mill Hill (Obit., MNRAS, 111 (1951), 156-7).
Fry, Isabel (1869-1958), born Highgate, London (see Agnes Fry in Somerset; WIKI).
Glaisher, James (1809-1903), meteorologist at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, (see Cambridgeshire; Buckinghamshire & ODNB).
Goodson, Howard (b.1881-w.1911), born Armley, Leeds, Yorkshire, astronomer at Solar Physics Observatory, South Kensington, London (see below) and Norman Lockyer Observatory (see Yorkshire: West Riding; 1911 English census; ‘Sic Itur AD Astra: A history of the Norman Lockyer Observatory’, JBAA, 25, 25-8).
Graham, John George (c.1791-1854) [Capt.; FRAS], son of Dr Robert Graham of Stirling, his first naval posting was on HMS Victory in 1809, receiving a commission in 1815. His career with the Royal Navy saw service in the Far East and the West Indies where he got his first command in Jamica from 1823. Graham joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1826 (Phillipps 2023).
Graves, Thomas (1802-1856) [Capt.; FRAS; FRGS], son of Capt. Thomas Graves, he attended the Royal naval College, Portsmouth where he joined the Royal Navy aged 15. As a midshipman Graves served under Capt. W.H. Smyth who was surveying Mediterranean water at the time. Later he undertook further surveys in the Greek islands and was appointed Marine Magistrate and Superintendent for the Ports of Malta. This was cut-short when he was stabbed by a disgruntled Maltese sailor, a wound that he failed to recover from, dying in 1856. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825, but was abroad for much of his naval career (Obit., MNRAS, 17 (1857), 96-8; Phillipps 2023).
Green, Charles (1735-1771), born Swinton. In 1761 appointed assistant to Bradley at the ROG. In 1763 he sailed with his assistant Rev. Neville Maskelyne to Barbados to test John Harrison’s fourth timekeeper. Returning to London in 1764, Green found that Astronomer Royal; Bliss had just died. He immediately continued his observations, only to find that Maskelyne obtained the appointment as Astronomer Royal. Green fell out with him, resigned, and joined the Navy. In 1769 at the recommendation of the Royal Society, Green sailed with James Cook on HMS Endeavour, to observe the 1769 Transit of Venus from Tahiti. Disappointingly, discrepancies in results from around the world caused the recording of the Venus transit to be declared a failure. Cook’s voyages as a whole were a huge success though, due to the pioneering anthropological, botanical and zoological work, and the vast improvements in navigation at sea. Cook and Green’s historical drawings of the transit of Venus are preserved for posterity at the Armagh Observatory. Green died of fever two years later. A monument marks the place at Venus Point, Tahiti, where the observations of the transit of Venus were conducted by Cook and Green in 1769 (see Yorkshire: West Riding; ODNB).
Green, Nathaniel Everett (1823-1899), born Bristol, privately educated first working in a merchants office in Liverpool before taking up a career in fine art. As a student at the Royal Academy, London in 1844 he met many of the Pre-raphaelite artist but took-up art teaching to support his growing family. Whith an interest in astronomy he owned several telescope and established observatories at two addresses in Circus Road (3 & 39), St. John’s Wood.He was elected to the RAS in 1875 and was a founder member of the BAA and director of their Saturn Section [1891-3 & 95-9] (Obit., MNRAS, 60 (1900), 318-20; McKim 2004).
Grieg, Alexis (1775-1845) [Admiral.; FRAS], born Kronstadt nr. St Petersburg, Russia he joined the Royal Navy in 1798 and later returning home to the Russian Navy serving in the Russo-Ottoman conflict (1806-12). He joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821-2 and the State Council of Imperial Russia under Czar Nicholas I (Phillipps 2023).
Groombridge, Stephen (1755-1832) was born at Goudhurst. Established his Blackheath Observatory 1806 (ODNB).
Grumbrecht [von Gumpach], Johannes [Baron Theodor] (1814-1875), born Fedderwarden nr. Wilhelmshaven, Germany, he was living London by 1841. (see Channel Islands; WIKI; Le Conte 2019).
Halley, Edmond (1656-1742) – born in Haggerston (a village since engulfed by Hackney), Shoreditch. Educated St Paul’s School, and Queen’s College, Oxford. As an undergraduate he published papers on sunspots, and the solar system, and in vacations observed with Flamstead at Greenwich. After leaving Oxford in 1676 Halley was financed by his father for a two-year expedition to St Helena, and with an aerial telescope of 24-feet focal length he made a catalogue of 341 southern stars (published 1678) to complement Flamstead’s northern catalogue. Halley was a highly productive polymath, and made numerous contributions to the Royal Society concerning weather systems, compasses, and the structure of the Earth. In 1703, despite his known atheism, he was appointed Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford. In 1682, just after his marriage, a great comet appeared and Halley observed it from London. In 1705 his study of historical records of comet sightings let him to publish a prediction of the return of the comet of 1682 in 1758 – now known as Halley’s Comet. Without acknowledging the method proposed by James Gregory in his Optica Promota, in 1716 Halley proposed a high-precision measurement of the Earth-Sun distance by long base-line observations of a Transit of Venus. In 1718 he discovered the proper motion of a few bright stars, including Arcturus and Sirius. In 1720 he became second Astronomer Royal, but had attacked Flamstead and so angered his widow that she removed all his instruments from the Royal Observatory. Halley commissioned the first transit instrument and devised a method for determining longitude at sea by means of lunar observations. Despite being aged 64, he undertook to observe the Moon through one complete 18-year cycle of revolution of its nodes – and accomplished that! Earlier observations of the Moon had been made only at conjunction or at opposition to the Sun and it was these earlier observations on which Newton’s lunar theory had been based. Halley’s other most notable scientific achievements were his detection of the “long inequality” of Jupiter and Saturn, and of the acceleration of the moon’s mean motion (1693), his theory of variation (1683), including the hypothesis of four magnetic poles, and his suggestion of the magnetic origin of the aurora borealis. Halley died in post in 1742 at the age of 85 (see ODNB; Oxfordshire).
Halliday, Francis Alexander Delap (1773-1830) [Capt.; FRAS], born Ham House, Surrey Halliday was the son of Major John Delap Halliday. He joined the Royal Navy aged 15 and saw much action during the Napoleonic War in both the Baltic and West Indies. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1821-2 (Phillipps 2023).
Handfield, John Vernon (1777-1820) [FRS], born Newport, Rhode Island during the American War of Independence. Joining the British army he served in Holland and Eygpt and was a First Lieutenant by 1804, and Lieutenant-Colonel by 1813. Versed in mathematics and Natural Philosophy he was elected to the Royal Society in 1815 by his associates, William Mudge, John Rowley and Charles Hutton (Phillipps 2023).
Hartnup, John (1841-1892), was born in Somerset House, London (see Lancashire Page)
Hepburn, Patrick Henry [FRAS] (1873-1929), born London, educated at Chaterhouse and Amersham Hall School nr. Amersham, qualifying as a solicitor in 1894. Active in the BAA from this period, Saturn section head (1912) and president ( 1921-3) and the Hampstead Scientific Society and its observatory. He joined the RAS in 1911 serving on its council (1922-9). Living in Hampstead he erected a private observatory housing a 12-inch Calver reflector formerly owned by Arthur Cottam (Obit., MNRAS, 90 (1930), 366-9; Obit., JBAA, 40 (1930), 166-8; Mobberley & Goward 2009.
Herapath, John (1790-1868), born Bristol 1790, to a maltster, he entered his father’s business, though managed to find time to study mathematics and physics. In about 1815 he opened a mathematical academy at Knowle Hill in Bristol. He submitted many papers to learned societies on various subjects relating to physics and mathematics. One such paper was review by Sir Humphry Davy which was rejected as he was uncomfortable with the implication that there was an absolute zero of temperature at which all motion ceased. There is little documented about his astronomical pursuits, but he is credited with discovering the great comet of 1831, on 7th January 1831 (MNRAS, 2 [1] (1831) , p.6). He describes the comet thus: ‘The tail was then nearly perpendicular to the horizon, inclining towards the south, and of a white colour, apparently between 1 degree and 2 degree long. The head was of the same colour as the tail, but, in proportion, far more splendid. To me, it appeared to equal in light stars of the second magnitude, while it exceeded them in size.’ As a journalist Herapath published his own journal and was a controversial figure. After transferring the editorship to his son he retired from journalism, dying at Catford Bridge, Lewisham, London in 1868 (ODNB).
Herschel, Alexander Stewart (1836–1907), born Feldhausen, nr. Cape Town, the 5th child of Sir John Herschel. After private education and tuition at Clapham Grammar School he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge graduating in 1859. Later he studied at the Royal School of Mines, London (1861-5), then natural philosophy lecturer at Anderson’s College, Glasgow (1866-71) and the chair of physics and experimental philosophy in the University of Durham College of Science, Newcastle upon Tyne (1871-86). During this time he pursued his lifelong interest in meteors, using spectroscopy to determine their composition. After 1886 he moved to Observatory House, Slough where he remained for the remainder of his life (see Buckinghamshire; Lanarkshire; ODNB; Obid. MNRAS, 68 (1908), 231-3).
Hind, John Russell (1823-1895), born in Nottingham, trained at the ROG, in 1844 became Observer at Bishop’s Observatory in Regent’s Park. He discovered 11 asteroids, the 1848 nova in Ophiucus, and his ‘variable nebula’ around T Tauri. He computed many cometary orbits, and from 1853 was superintendent of the Nautical Almanac. At Bishop’s Regent’s Park Observatory he mentored Norman Pogson. Hind, beside John Herschel and Dawes, was known to be one of the finest observers of his day see (see ODNB) – see Nottinghamshire page.
Hollis, Henry Park (1858-1939), educated at Westminster School, London and Jesus College Cambridge. He worked as an assistant astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, under Christie and Maunder. Associated with foundation of the British Astronomical Association and served as president, 1908-1910 (‘Obit.’, MNRAS, 100 (1940), 249-50).
Holehouse, Samuel (1791-fl.1846), born Middlesex. Amateur astronomer living in Islington, London, member of the Royal Astronomical Society (‘List of the Fellows of the Society’, MNRAS, 16 (1847), p.567), who reported his occultation observations made a with 7-foot refractor on 23 Oct. 1831 (‘Observations…’MNRAS, 2 [7] (1831), p.43).
Hooke, Robert (1635-1703), born Freshwater, Isle of Wight where he spent part of his childhood before moving to Oxford and then London. Appointed curator of instruments for the newly established Royal Society of London he was later appointed professor of geometry of Gresham College in 1664. Here in 1669 he established an observatory (see below) to try and measure Stellar Parallax – see below (ODNB).
Horsburgh, James (1762-1836) [Capt.; FRS], born Scotland at Ely in Fife, he was an apprenticed a vessel in the coal trade and later sailed in the Far East with the East India Company. Due to the poor state of charts he take up surveying to improve sea charts in the area. By 1811 he was appointed offical hydrographer to the EIC for Bengal and China. In 1806 he became a fellow of the Royal Society and was a founder of the Astronomical Society of London, dying at home in Herne Hill (Obit., MNRAS, 4 (1837), 38-9; Phillipps 2023).
Hough, Sydney Samuel (1870-1923), born in Stoke Newington, educated St John’s, Cambridge, third wrangler. He achieved the most important work on the theory of tides since Laplace. Chief Assistant at the Cape, 1898 and succeeded David Gill as H.M. Astronomer in 1906. He produced two catalogues of meridian observations, and worked on radial velocities and proper motions (‘Obit’, Obs 46 [1923], p. 269-72).
Huddart, Joseph (1741-1816), born at Allonby, Cumberland. A Captain, hydrographer and engineer, who had an interest in astronomy and naval architecture who built an observatory at his home at Highbury, London (ODNB; Huddart 1821).
Huggins, Sir William (1824-1910), born in St Peter’s, Cornhill, City of London. Achieved fame as a spectroscopist. It is not to detract from his remarkable contributions to note that in recent years Barbara Becker has established that his wife Margaret (née Lindsay in Dublin) was a full collaborator, the one who brought photography to their work, and mastered its techniques, although all their papers were published in his name alone. Huggins and his wife Margaret Huggins (1848-1915) established the Tulse Hill Observatory, Lambeth (ODNB) – see Huggins Observatory.
Hunt, George [FRAS] (1823-1896), born Liverpool he was educated at a local school and mechanics’ institute. On the death of his mother the family moved to Birmingham with the intention that George would work at the family Blades Works, Oldbury. However, business did not suit him and after his father’s death he lived with an uncle who made him his heir. In 1869 he purchased an 8-inch Cooke refractor from the estate of W.R. Dawes that was first erected in Edgbaston and later (1871) in West Dulwich after his marriage. After his death the telescope was acquired by William Maw (Obit. MNRAS, 57 (1897), 213; Davenhall 2016).
Hunter, Alan (1912-1995), born East Ham, London and educated at East Ham Grammar School. Graduated in Physics from Imperial College, London in 1931, where he remained studying spectroscopy obtaining a Phd in 1937. Appointed Assistant at Greenwich Observatory in the same as head of Astrometry & Astrophysics. Hunter worked on stellar proper motions of faint members of the Hyades star cluster for six months at the Mount Wilson Observatory during 1959 & 1960. Undertook the role of acting director of RGO Herstmonceux [1973 & 1976] (Obit,. QJRAS, 37 [3] (1996), 457-9).Inwards, Richard [FRAS, FRMetS] (1840-1937), born Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, mining engineer who later lived in London. In addition to astronomy, he was also interested in meteorology and Fellow of the RMetS from 1862 and president [1894-5]. His astronomical expertise lay with instruments, he wrote on the design of the Invar Pendulum and the form of observing seats used with the transit instrument (Obit., MNRAS, 98 (1938), p.252; Wiki).
Jamieson, Alexander (1782-1850) – writer, teacher, and author of his Celestial Atlas (1822), a popular successor to Flamstead’s Atlas Coelestis – was born in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, but his working life was in London, and he was a member of the Astronomical Society of London 1826-33. He lived off Oxford Street, then in Kensington where he had his own school, then by 1824 in Hounslow, and from 1826-38 he had his own Wyke House School in Sion Hill; however he went bankrupt, and then worked as an actuary but his health broke and he descended into poverty. The definitive note on him is Ian Ridpath (‘Alexander Jamieson, celestial map maker’, A&G, 54 [1] (Feb. 2013), 22-3). Ridpath shows that where Flamstead’s work was expensive and inaccessible to the public, Jamieson later aimed for an affordable edition in English. Despite his denials, he followed the size and arrangement of Johann Bode’s atlas of 1805 (second edition). However, where earlier atlases had closely followed Flamstead’s depictions of the constellation figures, Jamieson’s figures were more appealing. More than 100 constellations are featured on 30 charts or plates. Facsimiles of Jamieson’s charts were published in 1989 in Men, Monsters and the Modern Universe by George Lovi and Wil Tirion. The RAS Library has a copy of the second edition (1805).
Jones, Sir Harold Spencer (1890-1960), born Kensington, tenth Astronomer Royal (1933-55). In ten years at the Cape from 1923-33 he did important work in stellar catalogues and radial velocities. At the ROG he redetermined the solar parallax from world-wide observations of Eros 1930-31. He brought into operation two important new instruments: the 36-inch Yapp Reflector (1932) and the reversible transit circle, which replaced Airy’s instrument of 1850. Major new programmes addressed latitude variation, and more accurate time. He instigated the move from Greenwich to Herstmonceux, and played a key role in specifying and obtaining the Isaac Newton 100-inch reflector (ODNB).
Kelly, Patrick (1755/6-1842), born Stradbally, Queens County (Lois), Ireland, the son of a local landowner who moved to England in 1775. In due course he became master of the Finsbury Academy an establishment that provided mathematical training for gentleman entering commerce. The school had an observatory for the teaching of astronomy and navigational skills (ODNB; Obit., GentMag, 172 (1842), 434-5; Johnson 2021, 32).
Knobel, Edward Ball (1841-1930), born in Baker Street, London. Interested in astronomy as a child, in the 1860s he purchased a 3-inch refractor, and in 1872 an 8½-inch Browning reflector. He made many observations of planets, the Sun and Moon, and specialised in photometry, and made micrometer measurements of doubles. His last observations were of Mars in 1884. he became President of the BAA in 1910 (see Essex; ODNB; Obid., MNRAS, 91 (1931), 318-21; Obid., JBAA, 40 (1930), 401-3).
Kyd, Alexander (c.1754-1826) [FRS], born Scotland, he spent his career in the East India Company as a Bengal, officer Engineer, becoming Surveyor General for that part of India. A founder member of the Astronomical Society of London he was also elected to the Royal Society after he returned to Britain (Phillipps 2023).
Lawson, Henry (1774-1855), born in Greenwich, lived in Hereford – see Somerset.
Lynn, William Thynne [FRAS] (1835-1911), born London, educated at home he gained work at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich as a supernumerary computer. He then moved to Cambridge Observatory before being appointed an assistant back at Greenwich the following year in 1856. His career at the observatory was cut short by ill-health in 1880. Hereafter he took up his interest in the history and popularisation of astronomy being very active in the BAA, serving on its council (Obit., MNRAS, 72 (1912), 249-51; Obit., JBAA 22 (1911), 103-4).
Larkins, William [FRS] (fl.1760-1800), Accountant-General to the East India Company who retired to Blackheath in the 1790s. Here he pursued his interest in astronomy, establishing a well-equipped observatory and employing T.SEvans as his observer. The instruments were dispersed by auction on his death (Johnson 2021, 31; Talyor 1966, 265).
Lecount, Peter (1794-1852) [Lt.; FRAS], Lecount joined the Royal navy as a midshipman in 1809. After service during the Napoleonic Wars, he retired from the Navy in 1827 and became a civil engineer. He worked on railway with Robert Stephenson, later writing on the topic. He also researched chronometers, celestial navigation, observing eclipses of Jupiter while at sea, and joined the Astronomical Society of London, 1823-5 (Phillipps 2023).
Lewis, Thomas [FRAS] (1856-1927), educated at the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich, he joined the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1881 where he remained for his working life retiring in 1917 as a First-Class Assistant. Initially working with the Airy Circle, and Altazimuth, he later used the 28-inch refractor to make micrometrical measurements of double stars that were published in the Greenwich Catalogue of Double Stars (RGO; Obit., MNRAS, 88 (1928), 254-6; Wright 1992).
Lockyer, Sir John Norman (1836-1920) – see St John’s Wood Observatory (1869-71); Solar Physics Observatory (1879-1911) below; and Sidmouth Observatory (Devon Page).
Lowe, Gavin (c.1743-1815), a gentleman of independent means with an active interest in astronomy. He commissioned the prominent instrument maker, Edward Troughton to make him a fine altazimuth circle. This was sited in an observatory at his home at Paradise Row, Islington, then a village on the edge of London. He described a mercural pendulum, details of which were published postumouly by his friend Thomas Firminger (Hutton 1815, 129; Johnson 2021, 33-4; Firminger 1819).
Maskelyne, Nevil [Revd.] (1732-1811) – fifth Astronomer Royal 1765. In 1766 he founded and published the first issue of the Nautical Almanac (i.e. for the year 1767). This proved to be a most valuable aid to navigation and Maskelyne was personally responsible for its annual publication for 44 years until his death (ODNB).
Marryat, Frederick (1792-1848) [Capt.; FRS], educated in England, he joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipsman and seeing action during the Napoleonic Wars, inventing a new type of lifeboat and method of signalling. Later, in 1824 he resigned his commission and took up writing using his naval experience for his fiction. In 1819 he was elected to the Royal Society with the help of Charles Babbage who was at school with him, and was a founder member of the Astronomical Society of London (ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Marth, Albert (1828-1897), born Kolberg, Pomerania, educated at Berlin University he gained a position at Konigsberg Observatory. In 1853 he became assistant to Hind at the Bishop’s Observatory in Regent Park, London. He then in 1855 succeeded Rumker as the University Observatory, Durham a post he held until 1862. He was subsequently employed by Lassell in Malta, Newall in Newcastle before moving to Markree Observatory in Ireland for the remainder of his career (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, (1898), 139-42).
Mattey, Sidney Batt [FRAS, B.Sc.] (1886-1940), born London, a School science master from Plumstead, south east London, who specialised in meteor observing. Member of the BAA and Fellow of the RAS (Obit., MNRAS, 104 (1944), p.92).
Maunder [nee Russell], Annie Scott Dill (1868-1947), born County Tyrone, Ireland, educated in Belfast and Girton College, Cambridge. Appointed a computer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich where she meet her husband E.W. Maunder. Despite having to resign her position in 1895 after her marriage she continued to collaborate with her husband’s work, taking part in several solar eclipse expeditions (ODNB; Obit., JBAA, 57 (1947), 238; Bruck 1994).
Maunder, Edward Walter (1851-1928), born St Pancras he was educated at University College School in Gower St., London. A civil ervant he was appointed to head the Solar Section of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1873. In addition to his work at Greenwich he popularised astronomy through several books and was involved with the establishment of the BAA in 1890. Active as an amateur he made observations of comets using a 4-inch Simms refractor on an equatorial mount. He is now best remembered for his study of sunspots (ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 89 (1929), 313-8; Obit., JBAA, 38 (1928), 229-34; McKim 1990).
McCance, James Law [FRAS] (1856-1903), born Ireland, and he then moved to England residing in Putney Hill, London for the rest of his life. Nothing is known of his education or profession, but he was recoded as of independent means by 1890. His interests in astronomy lay in observation, records indicate he used a 10-inch silver-on-glass reflector by Calver. He made observations of Jupiter but his main area of interest lay with lunar studies. Like his brother John he was an active member of the Selenography Society with many of his observations published in their journal.
Merton, Gerald (1893-1983), born in London, educated Trinity College, Cambridge. Joined the BAA and the RAS in 1922, and served both devotedly. Returned to take a PhD at Cambridge, and mastered computing. Encouraged by Dyson he was a volunteer observer for some years at the ROG. In 1940 he moved to Oxford, and from 1946 was a volunteer in the University Observatory. He published 20 major papers, and was an expert on comets and meteors (Dewhirst 1996).
Morgan, Augustus De (1806–1871), born in Madura, India and moved to Britain at the age of ten. After being privately educated he graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in Mathematics. As Mathematician and Historian he was involved the establishment of the Royal Astronomical Society. He wrote extensively on the history of astronomy and mathematics (ODNB).
Mudge, William (1762-1820) [FRS], commissioned into the Royal Artillary in 1779 and served during the American War of Independence. Later he was appointed to the Ordnance Trigonometrical Survey and became director in 1791. He published papers in Philosophical Transactions and was made lieutenant-governor at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and was a member of the Board of Longitutde. He was an early but short-lived member of the Astronomical Society of London founded in 1820 (Phillipps 2023).
Nevill, Edmund Neville (alias Neison) [FRS; FRAS] (1849-1940), born Beverly, Yorkshire and educated at Harrow and New College, Oxford. With independent means, he took-up the study of chemistry and astronomy. At his home at Hampstead in the 1870s he established an observatory with a 6-inch equatorial refractor and a 9.5-inch With/Browing reflector to observe the Moon, becoming the foremost selenographer of his day. After 1882, he moved to South Africa to establish the Durban Observatory. Here he remained until 1911 when he returned to Britain, but retired from astronomy (Obit., MNRAS, 101 (1941), 137-9; Hockney 2007, 825-6).
Norquoy, Henry (fl.1800-1825) [Capt.; FRAS], a sea captain known to have served with the East India Company sailing in the Far East (Singapore & Batavia). Noquoy is known to have taken part in surveying operations and joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825 (Phillipps 2023).
Owen, Edward William Campbell (1771-1849) [Admiral; FRAS], born Campobello, Nova Scotia in Canada Owen followed his father into the Royal Navy. With a wide-ranging career during the Napoleonic Wars, he reached the senor rank of Admiral. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1821-2 (Phillipps 2023).
Owen, Richard [Commander; FRAS] (1796-1863), born County Wexford, Ireland, he joined the Royal Navy in 1811. Owen was commissioned a lieutenant in 1821 and was attached to a surveying vessel in the West Indies. He also carried out survey work in West Africa and work for the Ordnance Survey. He communicated with the Astronomer Royal, John Pond on chronometers and his observations of Halley Comet (1836). Owen joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1830 (Phillipps 2023).
Owen, William Fitzwilliam (1774-1857) [Vice-Admiral; FRAS], born Campobello, Nova Scotia in Canada, William was the half-brother of E.W.C Owen. He joined the Royal Navy as Midshipman in 1788, aged 13. Despite involvement in the Spithead Mutiny, he reached Second Lieutenant by 1797 and served widely during the Napoleonic Wars. Owen undertook much surveying work during his career and was an ardent slave abolitionist causing friction with his superiors. Reaching the rant of Vice-Admiral, he joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1821-2 and contributed a paper of the sextant (Obit., MNRAS, 19 (1859), 120-4; Phillipps 2023).
Parr, William Alfred (1865-1936), born in Hampstead, London (see Hertfordshire).
Parry, Sir William Edward (1790-1855) [Capt.; FRS; FRAS], born Bath, he attended Bath Grammar School before joining the Royal Navy in 1803 and seeing service through the Napoleonic Wars. He is notable as an Arctic explorer (1818-24) reaching the most northly point until 1876. Reaching the rank of Rear Admiral, he joined the Royal Society and the Astronomical Society of London in 1821 (ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Plummer, William Edward (1849-1928), born near Greenwich at Deptford. Trained at the ROG as a computer, and qualifying as an observer on the transit, in 1868 he joined Bishop’s Regent’s Park Observatory. In 1874 Plummer was appointed First Assistant at the new University of Oxford Observatory. In 1892, Plummer was appointed director of the Bidston Observatory, and remained there until his death – see Cheshire.
Pond, John (1767-1836), born in London, sixth Astronomer Royal (1811-35). He gained the appointment because of his reputation as an excellent practical astronomer who had analysed the errors of the ROG’s quadrant. He reformed the observatory and its practices, but his tenure was ruined by poor health and lack of control of his assistants. Latterly the ROG failed to generate, reduce, and print each year the accurate observations essential to the Nautical Almanac (ODNB).
Pogson, Norman (1829-1891), second assistant (1850-2) at Bishop’s Observatory (ODNB; see below) see Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire.
Pope, Walter (bap. 1628-1714), born Northamptonshire he obtained a degree from Wadham College, Oxford in 1649. Both a poet and astronomer he succeeded Sir Christopher Wren to the chair of astronomy at Gresham College London in 1660. He both observed and lectured on the motion of the heavens (ODNB), Ward 1740).
Proctor, Mary (1862-1957), born Dublin, Ireland, daughter of Richard Proctor (see below) who to the United States with her Father. Best known as an astronomy popularizer writing numerous books on the subject. Not an observer she resided in America until after the First World War when she moved to London where she remained for the remainder of her life (ODNB).
Proctor, Richard Anthony (1837-1888), born Cheyne Row, Chelsea. Astronomer and science writer (Noble 1888; Ranyard 1889; ODNB).
Ranyard, Arthur Cowper [FRAS] (1845-1894), born Swanscombe, Kent, he attended University College School, London and later University College where he came under the influence of George de Morgan. Later, graduating from Pembroke College, Cambridge Ranyard took up a career in law which gave him the means to pursue his interests in astronomy. Elected a fellow of the RAS in 1863 he served as secretary and was involved with solar eclipse expeditions (1870, 78 & 82). After the death of Richard Proctor, he revised Proctor’s Old and New Astronomy and became editor for the journal Knowledge (ODNB; Obit., ApJ, 1 (1895), 168-9; Sheehan 2007).
Raper, Henry [Lieutenant; FRAS] (c.1799-1859), eldest son of Admiral Raper of the same name, who joined the Royal Navy in 1811. He first served under his father and later with Capt. W. H. Smyth, an experience that provided scientific openings in navigation, nautical astronomy surveying. Promoted to lieutenant in 1823, he later worked on an Admiralty committee to improve the calculation of ships tonnage. In 1840 he published The Practice of Navigation and Nautical Astronomy. Raper joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1829 (ODNB; ‘Bio notes’, 19 (1859), 128-31; Phillipps 2023).
Richards, Walter John Bruce [Revd., FRAS] (1835-1904), educated at the Merchant Taylors’ School, London and St Mary’s, Oxford. H he was initially a solicitor’s clerk, later became a RC priest based in London where he was an educationist. His astronomical interest lay in selenography, being a member of the Selenographical Society to whom he submitted his lunar observations as well as the Astronomical Register, also joining the RAS and BAA (Obit., MNRAS, 65 (1905), p.345).
Riddle, Edward (1788–1854 born at Troughend in Northumberland. After receiving basic mathematical training locally he took up the role of schoolmaster at Shielyfield, Northumberland, then at Newcastle. On the recommendation of Dr Charles Hutton he gained the post of master (1821) of the upper mathematical school at the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich until retirement in 1851. His most significant published work was Treatise on Navigation and Nautical Astronomy (1824). His son John was headmaster Greenwich Hospital schools (see Northumberland; ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 15 (1855), 110-5).
Robbins, Frank (1860-1933) [FRAS], born Holloway, London, educated in the city and worked for the Corporation of London all his life. In addition to being an amateur observer he undertook calculations in celestial mechanics. Active in both the BAA and the RAS (see Northumberland; Obit., MNRAS, 109 (1946), 33-4).
Rogerson, William (1796-1853), born in Pocklington in Yorkshire. Appointed as fifth Assistant at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, by John Pond in 1825 on the recommendation of William Richardson, also from Pocklington, who was already working at the observatory (see RGO website).
Ross, Sir John (1777-1856) [Capt. FRAS], born near Stranraer, Scotland he served in the merchant marine before joining the Royal Navy. Better known as an Arctic explorer he saw extensive service during the Napoleonic Wars. He joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821 and submitted an observation of an occultation of Uranus from Stranraer but had a home in London were he died (Obit., MNRAS, 17 (1857), 100-3; ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Rowley, John (c.1768-1824) [FRS], joined the British army and trained in the Royal Artillery before transferring to the Royal Engineers. Served both in France and the Low countries and was Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications in 1811, reaching the rank of Major-General. An associate of John Handfield he was elected to the Royal Society and an early member of the Astronomical Society of London (Phillipps 2023).
Sadler, Herbert [FRAS] (1856-1898), born London (?), was educated at Sherborne school and Queens’ College, Cambridge. Following no specific career he developed a serious interest in astronomy. His interest lay with double-star and lunar observations. The former involved him in scandal when he criticised the observations of W.H. Smyth (Ashbrook 1984). For the latter he was involved with the work of Edmund Neison Nevill (Obit., MNRAS, 59 (1899), 59-60).
Saunder, Samuel A. (1852 – 1912), born in London, educated at St Paul’s School, then Trinity College, Cambridge – see Berkshire.
Sellers, Francis John (1875-1959), born London, he received little education before taking up engineering and later having formal training at Finsbury Technical College. Though interested in astronomy from an early age, he did not follow it seriously until 1909 when he constructed his first telescope. He converted the attic of his home in Muswell Hill into an observatory and constructed a heliospectroscope based on Hale example at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich (Stroobant 1931; Obit., QJRAS, 1 (1960), 242-4; Obit., JBAA, 70 (1960), 235-8).
Shackleton, William (1871-1921), born Keighley, 1891 an assistant at the Solar Physics Observatory, London, eclipse expeditions, sometime assistant to Andrew Common (see Obit., MNRAS, 82 (1922), 255-6).
Sheepshanks, Richard [FRS; FRAS] (1794-1855), born Leeds, educated at Richmond School, and graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge as tenth wrangler in 1819. A gentleman of independent means, after the death of his father, he took up residence at Woburn Place, London where he established a small observatory (1824-41). At an early stage he took an interest in astronomy, helping Airy with gravity experiments in Cornwall and the Royal Society commission on Weights and Measures. An early member of the Royal Astronomical Society he became secretary and was prominent in the dispute between Sir James South and the London instrument maker Edward Troughton (Hoskins 1989). His considerable instrument collection was donated to the RAS by his sister, Anne Sheepshanks (see Yorkshire: West Riding; London; Cambridgeshire; Berkshire; ODNB; Obit., MNRAS, 16, [4](1856), 90-7).
Shirreff, William Henry (1785-1847) [Vice-Admiral; FRAS], born Manchester Shirreff joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer aged 11. He had varied career during the Napoleonic Wars serving in India and the West Indies. After his return to England, in 1821, he built an observatory for his 5-Foot telescope and later at Gibraltar he constructed another one for shipping timekeeping. His final appointment was as Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. Reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral, he joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1821-2 (Obit., MNRAS, 8 (1848), 67-9; Phillipps 2023).
Short, James (1710-68), optical instrument maker with an observatory – see below (ODNB– see Midlothian).
Smyth, William Henry [Admiral] (1788-1865), was born in Westminster, London. In 1830 he established a private observatory at Bedford. An active observer, his book Cycle of Celestial Objects encouraged and the setting up of observatories for those able to afford 5 and 6 inch refractors, and the work they could usefully do. In particular this bore fruit as “the Hartwell Synod” of observatories centred on Dr John Lee’s Hartwell house. Smyth was very influential in the RAS Council. His son-in-law was Professor Baden Powell of Oxford. His son Charles Piazzi Smyth (1819-1900) was a brilliant but eccentric and somewhat controversial Astronomer Royal for Scotland 1844-1900. Smyth suffered a heart attack at his home near Aylesbury in early September, 1865, and at first seemed to recover. On 8 September he showed the planet Jupiter to his young grandson, Arthur Smyth Flower, through a telescope. A few hours later in the early morning of 9 September, at age 78, he died. He was buried in the churchyard at Stone nearAylesbury, where the rector had been his friend and an observatory owning member of the Synod (see Bedfordshire; Glamorgan; Buckinghamshire – Smyth’s Bedford Observatory; and ‘the Hartwell Synod’; ODNB)
South, Sir James (1785–1867) born in Southwark . He was co-founder of the Astronomical Society of London. He established an observatory at Blackman Street, Southward, 1816-24. In 1826 he planned a larger instrument and purchased a site on Campden Hill, Kensington. Brunel built the tower and dome. South had bought an 11.8-inch glass from Cauchoix for about £1,000 – it would at the time have made the largest refractor in the world. South got in to an acrimonious dispute with Edward Troughton over the mount, and the instrument was never completed. He donated the glass to the Dunsink Observatory, where it was mounted by Thomas Grubb as the South Refractor (ODNB).
Stokes, Pringle (1793-1828) [Capt.; FRAS], Stokes joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman aged 12. He reached the rank of Lieutenant whilst undertaking patrols against the slave trade in 1823 and took command at the death of his captain. Later he took command of the HMS Beagle that was surveying the South American coastline in 1826. However, suffering from stress he took his own life using a firearm – Robert Fitzroy taking command. Stokes joined the Astronomical Society of London in the same year (Phillipps 2023).
Stone, Edward James (1831-1897) born in London. He was educated at King’s College, London, then Queen’s College, Cambridge, where despite poor health he graduated fifth wrangler in 1859. In 1860 he was appointed Chief Assistant at the ROG to succeed Robert Main. Never keen on observing, and unable to endure the rigours of night work, he concentrated on theoretical astronomy, and during ten years at Greenwich greatly improved some fundamental constants by re-examining observations. In 1870 he succeeded Thomas Maclear as astronomer at the Cape. By ten years hard work he produced the Cape Catalogue of 12,441 stars. He was anxious to return to England, and by Airy’s influence was appointed Radcliffe Observer in 1879. However, he found the observatory obsolete, with no hope of new investment, and was condemned to oversee his assistants making second-class meridian observations by the eye-and-ear method, which could not bear comparison to the work at the ROG. Therefore he directed some of the Radcliffe Observatory’s resources to producing a useful work, the Radcliffe Catalogue for 1890 of 6,424 stars between the equator and -25° Dec., published 1894 (ODNB).
Stratford, William Samuel (1789-1853) [Capt.; FRS; FRAS], born Eltham, Surrey, Stratford joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman becoming a Lieutenant in 1815. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825 and became a council member and vice-president of the society. A talented mathematician, he became Superintendent of the Nautical Office in 1831 and for the next 22 years. He was responsible for new tables for the aberration of light, for which he was award the RAS Silver Medal in 1827 and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1832 (Obit., MNRAS, 14 (1854), 115-6; ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Street(e), Thomas (1621-1689), born at Castlelyons (?), Ireland, but spent most of his life in London, dying in Westminster. He wrote books on astronomical calculation which were noted for their accuracy (see Cork; Clarke 1898, 237-9; Wiki).
Talmage, George (1840-86), employed as an observer (1860 & 64-5) at Bishop’s Observatory then director of Barclay’s Leyton Observatory (1865-86) until his death (Obit. MNRAS, 47 (1887), 142-3).
Thackeray, A. David (1910-1978), born in Chelsea, educated at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge. While still at school he was an active observer for the variable star section of the BAA. After graduating in 1932 he worked at the Solar Physics Observatory, on the problem of the intensity of Fraunhofer lines in spectra. From 1937-48, apart from service in the Friends Ambulance Unit, he was Chief Assistant at the SPO. In 1948 he was appointed Chief Assistant at the Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria, where the 74″ reflector was coming in to service as the largest reflector in the southern hemisphere. He devoted himself to its full exploitation, and in 1950 succeeded Knox-Shaw as director until the site closed in 1974. His work gained him credit, that ‘He, more than any other single person, opened up the southern hemisphere to modern astrophysics’ (Feast 1979).
Thackeray, William Grassett [FRAS] (1853-1919), educated at Bedford Grammar School, he joined the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1875, reaching the rank of Assistant when he retired. Most of his work was associated with the Airy Transit and reduction of observations. He submitted various paper to the RAS that related to his work at Greenwich (RGO; Obit., MNRAS, 96 (1936), 297).
Todd, Sir Charles [KCMG, FRS] (7 July 1826 – 29 January 1910) born in Islington, worked at Greenwich (ODNB).
Trotter, Henry Dundas [Capt., FRAS] (1802-1859), born Edinburgh, he joined the Royal Navy in 1818. He spent his naval career in the East Indies, the Persian Gulf and the west coast of Africa suppressing the slave trade until the 1840s. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1828 (ODNB; Phillipps 2023).
Tyer, Edward (1830-1912), born Kennington, London (6 Feb.), educated at City of London School and then privately at Mr. Dempster’s School near, Chiswick. Through his scientific knowledge he followed a career in electrical engineering being a pioneer in electrical signalling used in railways. His interest in astronomy developed through contact with the Astronomer Royal, George Biddell Airy when the Royal Observatory, Greenwich was being added to the new telegraphic networks for time signals – distribution of GMT. For many years Tyer had a well-equipped private observatory, living in London, Holdenhurst, Hampshire and Surrey. In addition to being a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers Tyer was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He died on Christmas Day 1912, aged 82 and was buried at Busbridge, Surrey (Obit., MNRAS, 74 (1914), p.280).
Wales, William [FRS] (1734-1798), born Warfield, West Yorkshire in humble circumstance who became an able mathematician. He was appointed as astronomer on Capt. Cook’s second voyage of discovery to make Transit of Venus observation. On his return he was appointed master to teach navigation at the Royal Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital, London. Here he remained for the rest of his career, establishing an observatory on the roof of the premises to assist his teaching (ODNB; Hutton 1815, 129).
Wetherell, Thackray (1787-1822) [Capt.; FRAS], born Sutherland, he commanded various merchant vessels in the Far East and Australia. He joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821, where he is list Captain RN living in Rotherhithe, although his commands appear to be civilian rather than naval (Phillipps 2023).
Wharton, Sir William James Lloyd (1843-1905), born in London. A Naval officer and hydrographer with an interest in astronomy who observed both the 1874 & 1882 transit of Venus. He died at the Cape Observatory as a guest of Sir David Gill during a visit by the British Association (‘Obit.’, MNRAS, 66, p.179 ; ODNB).
Whitaker, Ewen A. (b.1922), born Woolwich, a professional astronomer at Greenwich. BAA Lunar Section director 1956-1958, when he joined Gerard Kuiper at Yerkes, and then at Kuiper’s Lunar & Planetary Institute in Arizona where he became a leader in lunar studies, assisting in the drawing of maps used by NASA for the Apollo missions (Leatherbarrow 2013).
Wilson, John Peter (1791-1832) [Capt.], an officer with East India Company who commanded the armed East Indian ship Cornwall to China. He joined the Astronomical Society of London around 1821 giving his address at both Epping and Rotherhithe (Phillipps 2023).
Winthrop, Robert [Rear Admiral; FRAS] (1764-1832), born New London, Connecticut, he joined the Royal navy aged 17. He saw extensive service during the War of American Independence. Later Winthrop joined the Astronomical Society of London (1828-31), dying of paralysis in Dover (Wiki; Phillipps 2023).
Wollaston, William Hyde (1766-1828), born East Dereham, Norfolk, alchemist, physicist, and physiologist with an interest in astronomy. Educated at in Lewisham and at Charterhouse School (1774–8) he went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Better remembered for chemical research on the metal platinum, he also first observed absorption (Frauhofer) lines in the Sun in 1802 (see Norfolk; Obit., MNRAS, 1 (1829), p.102; ODNB).
Wright, George (1779-1856) [Lieutenant-Colonel; FRAS], born Edinburgh, the son of a surgeon he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1797. He joined the Astronomical Society of London in 1825, but his membership had lapsed by 1831. By this time, he had moved back to Edinburgh where he reached the rank of Major-General (Phillipps 2023).
Wrottesley, John, [second Baron Wrottesley] (1798–1867), built an Observatory in Blackheath and later at Staffordshire.
Survey of Astronomical History 
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