Adams, John Franklin- (1843–1912), astronomer and astrophotographer, was born on 5 August 1843 in Nelson Square, Peckham, London, the son of John Adams, a shipowner and underwriter at Lloyds, and his wife, Ann, née Hodges. Originally named John Adams, he was educated at ...
Article
Adams, John Franklin- (1843–1912), astronomer and astrophotographer
W. J. Leatherbarrow
Article
Adams, John Couch (1819–1892), astronomer
Roger Hutchins
Adams, John Couch (1819–1892), astronomer, was born on 5 June 1819 at Lidcot, a farm near Launceston, Cornwall, the eldest of the seven children of Thomas Adams (1788–1859), a poor tenant farmer, and his wife, Tabitha Knill Grylls (1796–1866), a farmer's daughter who had received some education from her uncle ...
Image
Adams, John Couch (1819–1892)
Maker: Sir Hubert von Herkomer
John Couch Adams (1819–1892) by Sir Hubert von Herkomer, 1888 Pembroke College, Cambridge
Image
Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801–1892)
Maker: Maull & Polyblank
In
Sir George Biddell Airy (1801–1892) by Maull & Polyblank, c. 1864 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Article
Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801–1892), astronomer
Allan Chapman
Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801–1892), astronomer, was born at Alnwick, Northumberland, on 27 July 1801, the eldest of the four children of William Airy (1749–1827), of Luddington in Lincolnshire. His mother, Ann Biddell (d. 1841), a woman of strong character and natural abilities, was the daughter of a well-to-do farmer from near ...
Article
Alcock, George Eric Deacon (1912–2000), astronomer
Jason Tomes
Alcock, George Eric Deacon (1912–2000), astronomer, was born on 28 August 1912 at 59 London Road, Fletton, Peterborough, the eldest of the four sons of George William Alcock (1880/81–1958), railwayman, and his wife, Jane (Jennie) Deacon (1875/6–1943), dressmaker. He was educated in Peterborough...
Article
Andrews, Henry (1744–1820), astronomer and astrologer
Patrick Curry
Andrews, Henry (1744–1820), astronomer and astrologer, was born on 4 February 1744 in Frieston, Lincolnshire. His background was humble, and he received little or no formal education. A passion for astronomy was evident from a very early age, and by the time he was ten he had acquired a telescope, which he used to set on a table on ...
Article
Askham [Ascham], Anthony (c. 1517–1559), writer on astronomy and almanac maker
Bernard Capp
Askham [Ascham], Anthony (c. 1517–1559), writer on astronomy and almanac maker, was born at Kirby Wiske, near Northallerton, Yorkshire, the third son of John Ascham (d. 1544) of Kirby Wiske, who was a yeoman farmer and steward to Lord Scrope of Bolton...
Article
Atkinson, Henry (1781–1829), mathematician and astronomer
Joseph Gross
Atkinson, Henry (1781–1829), mathematician and astronomer, was born on 28 June 1781 at West Harle, Northumberland, the son of Cuthbert Atkinson (1754/5–1840), a schoolmaster, and his wife, Elizabeth Smyth. He was educated by his father, who ran a number of schools in small towns in ...
Article
Aubert, Alexander (bap. 1730, d. 1805), merchant and astronomer
A. M. Clerke
revised by Anita McConnell
Aubert, Alexander (bap. 1730, d. 1805), merchant and astronomer, was born at Austin Friars, London, and baptized on 11 May 1730 at St Peter-le-Poer, Old Broad Street, London, the second of seven children and eldest of the four sons of Claude Aubert (1692–1774)...
Article
Bacon [married name Foggitt], Gertrude (1874–1949), aeronaut, astronomer, and botanist
Sian Prosser
Bacon [married name Foggitt], Gertrude (1874–1949), aeronaut, astronomer, and botanist, was born at 12 Park Side, Cambridge, on 19 April 1874, the second of three surviving children of John Mackenzie Bacon (1856–1904), aeronaut, astronomer, and clergyman, and his first wife, ...
Article
Bacon, John Mackenzie (1846–1904), astronomer and aviator
W. B. Owen
revised by Julian Lock
Bacon, John Mackenzie (1846–1904), astronomer and aviator, born at Lambourn Woodlands, Berkshire, on 19 June 1846, was the fourth son of John Bacon (1809–1871), vicar of Lambourn Woodlands, a friend and neighbour of Charles Kingsley and Tom Hughes, and his wife, Mary Lousada...
Article
Bagwell, William (b. c. 1593, d. in or after 1664), merchant and writer on astronomy
T. F. Henderson
revised by H. K. Higton
Bagwell, William (b. c. 1593, d. in or after 1664), merchant and writer on astronomy, was, according to his own account, 'bred a merchant in good quality, skilfully furnished with knowledge in all things necessary, and having seen the world abroad' (...
Image
Baily, Francis (1774–1844)
Maker: Thomas Goff Lupton
In
Francis Baily (1774–1844) by Thomas Goff Lupton (after Thomas Phillips, 1837) © National Portrait Gallery, London
Article
Baily, Francis (1774–1844), stockbroker and astronomer
William J. Ashworth
Baily, Francis (1774–1844), stockbroker and astronomer, was born at Newbury, Berkshire, on 28 April 1774, the third son of Richard Baily (1744–1814), a banker, and his wife, Sarah Head (1745–1823). At the age of fourteen, following his education at the old grammar school in ...
Article
Bainbridge, John (1582–1643), astronomer and physician
A. J. Apt
Bainbridge, John (1582–1643), astronomer and physician, was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, the son of Robert Bainbridge and his wife, Anne, daughter of Richard Everard. He was educated first at the grammar school there, and then at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was admitted as a pensioner in the Lent term, 1600. His tutor is said to have been a distant relative, ...
Article
Ball, Sir Robert Stawell (1840–1913), astronomer
P. A. Wayman
Ball, Sir Robert Stawell (1840–1913), astronomer, was born on 1 July 1840 at 3 Granby Row, Dublin, the second of the seven children of Robert Ball (1802–1857), a civil servant who was honorary secretary of the Dublin Royal Zoological Society, and his wife, ...
Article
Ball, William (c. 1631–1690), astronomer
Joseph Gross
Ball, William (c. 1631–1690), astronomer, was the son of Sir Peter Ball (bap. 1598, d. 1680), a barrister of the Middle Temple, and his wife, Ann, daughter of Sir William Cooke of Highnam, Gloucestershire. He was the eldest of seventeen children in a legal and mercantile family of minor ...
Article
Banneker, Benjamin (1731–1806), astronomer and farmer in America
Silvio A. Bedini
Banneker, Benjamin (1731–1806), astronomer and farmer in America, was born on 9 November 1731 in Baltimore county, Maryland, in what later became the community of Oella, the first of four children of Robert (d. 1759), a former slave from Guinea who had been given his freedom, and his mixed-race wife, ...
