Wollaston's Transit Instrument for determining the position of celestial objects as they pass the meridian[1]
Wollaston was the son of Francis Wollaston (1694–1774) and his wife Mary Fauquier. He was educated privately and at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he graduated LL.B. in 1754.[2] Though admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1750, Wollaston was never called to the bar, but became a clergyman. Ordained deacon in 1754 and priest in 1755, he became Rector of Dengie in 1758. From 1761 to 1769 he was Rector and Vicar of East Dereham, and from 1769 to 1815 Rector of Chislehurst.[2]
Wollaston wrote a rare privately printed autobiography The Secret History of a Private Man. In it, he explains that his pursuit of astronomy was intended to separate him at a "distance from the misrepresentations of narrow minded biggots." He had a private observatory with a triplet telescope by Peter Dollond. He was buried at Chislehurst.[2]
He achieved some distinction as an astronomer, becoming a member of the Royal Society in 1769 and later serving on its council. He also produced a catalogue of stars and nebulae in 1789, which was used by many including his friend William Herschel.[3]
Beliefsedit
Wollaston was suspected of unorthodox beliefs, perhaps Unitarianism, a denial of the Trinity. His actual belief, which he kept secret, was much more distinctive. It was that "the Archangel Michael had created mankind and was subsequently incarnated as Jesus".[3]
Familyedit
He married Althea Hyde, daughter of John Hyde, in 1758 and they had many children:
Mary Hyde Wollaston (1760–1843), married, in 1803, William Panchen, vicar of St Mary and St Benedict, Huntingdon
Althea Hyde Wollaston (1760–1785), married Thomas Heberden (1754–1843), a priest and canon of Exeter Cathedral
Frederick Hyde Wollaston (1770–1839?; went to America in 1796)
Louisa Hyde Wollaston (1771–1772)
Charles Hyde Wollaston (1772–1850)
Henry Hyde Wollaston (1774), died in infancy
Amelia Hyde Wollaston (1775–1860)
Henry Septimus Hyde Wollaston (1776–1867), married Maria Anna Blanckenhagen, the daughter of a well-known merchant family originating from the Baltic.
Sophia Hyde Wollaston (1777–1810), unmarried
Louisa Decima Hyde Wollaston (1778–1854), married James Leonard Jackson, a priest from Dorsetshire
unknown child
unknown child
Referencesedit
^Wollaston, Francis (1793). "A description of a transit circle, for determining the place of celestial objects as they pass the meridian". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 83: 133–153. doi:10.1098/rstl.1793.0013. S2CID 186211323.
^ abc"Wollaston, Francis (WLSN748F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ abHeavenly Heresies – the Reverend Francis Wollaston. Astronomy Now, October 2012, page 16
Clifford J. Cunningham, The First Asteroid, 2001
External linksedit
A Portraiture of the Heavens, Wollaston's 1811 star atlas, full digital facsimile, Linda Hall Library
April 10, 2024
francis, wollaston, astronomer, francis, wollaston, november, 1731, london, october, 1815, british, astronomer, church, england, priest, elected, fellow, royal, society, 1769, francis, wollastonborn, 1731, november, 1731london, ukdied31, october, 1815, 1815, a. Francis Wollaston 23 November 1731 London 31 October 1815 was a British astronomer and Church of England priest He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1769 Francis WollastonBorn 1731 11 23 23 November 1731London UKDied31 October 1815 1815 10 31 aged 83 Scientific careerFieldsAstronomy Contents 1 Life 2 Beliefs 3 Family 4 References 5 External linksLife edit nbsp Wollaston s Transit Instrument for determining the position of celestial objects as they pass the meridian 1 Wollaston was the son of Francis Wollaston 1694 1774 and his wife Mary Fauquier He was educated privately and at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge where he graduated LL B in 1754 2 Though admitted to Lincoln s Inn in 1750 Wollaston was never called to the bar but became a clergyman Ordained deacon in 1754 and priest in 1755 he became Rector of Dengie in 1758 From 1761 to 1769 he was Rector and Vicar of East Dereham and from 1769 to 1815 Rector of Chislehurst 2 Wollaston wrote a rare privately printed autobiography The Secret History of a Private Man In it he explains that his pursuit of astronomy was intended to separate him at a distance from the misrepresentations of narrow minded biggots He had a private observatory with a triplet telescope by Peter Dollond He was buried at Chislehurst 2 He achieved some distinction as an astronomer becoming a member of the Royal Society in 1769 and later serving on its council He also produced a catalogue of stars and nebulae in 1789 which was used by many including his friend William Herschel 3 Beliefs editWollaston was suspected of unorthodox beliefs perhaps Unitarianism a denial of the Trinity His actual belief which he kept secret was much more distinctive It was that the Archangel Michael had created mankind and was subsequently incarnated as Jesus 3 Family editHe married Althea Hyde daughter of John Hyde in 1758 and they had many children Mary Hyde Wollaston 1760 1843 married in 1803 William Panchen vicar of St Mary and St Benedict Huntingdon Althea Hyde Wollaston 1760 1785 married Thomas Heberden 1754 1843 a priest and canon of Exeter Cathedral Francis John Hyde Wollaston 1762 1823 philosopher Charlotte Hyde Wollaston 1763 1835 Katherine Hyde Wollaston 1764 1844 conchologist George Hyde Wollaston 1765 1841 William Hyde Wollaston 1766 1828 physiologist chemist and physicist Henrietta Hyde Wollaston 1767 1840 Anna Hyde Wollaston 1769 1828 unmarried Frederick Hyde Wollaston 1770 1839 went to America in 1796 Louisa Hyde Wollaston 1771 1772 Charles Hyde Wollaston 1772 1850 Henry Hyde Wollaston 1774 died in infancy Amelia Hyde Wollaston 1775 1860 Henry Septimus Hyde Wollaston 1776 1867 married Maria Anna Blanckenhagen the daughter of a well known merchant family originating from the Baltic Sophia Hyde Wollaston 1777 1810 unmarried Louisa Decima Hyde Wollaston 1778 1854 married James Leonard Jackson a priest from Dorsetshire unknown child unknown childReferences edit Wollaston Francis 1793 A description of a transit circle for determining the place of celestial objects as they pass the meridian Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 83 133 153 doi 10 1098 rstl 1793 0013 S2CID 186211323 a b c Wollaston Francis WLSN748F A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b Heavenly Heresies the Reverend Francis Wollaston Astronomy Now October 2012 page 16 Clifford J Cunningham The First Asteroid 2001External links editA Portraiture of the Heavens Wollaston s 1811 star atlas full digital facsimile Linda Hall Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Wollaston astronomer amp oldid 1188984485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
