Patrick CoplandFRSE FSA LLD (January 1749 – 10 November 1822) was a Professor of Mathematics (1775-1779) and Natural Philosophy (1779-1817) at Marischal College in Aberdeen. He was a co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783. He was a keen astronomer and was responsible for building the Castlehill Observatory in Aberdeen. He was a pioneer of the use of demonstration equipment (much of his own design) to explain the principles of mathematics and physics.[1]
He was born in January 1749 (many sources erroneously state 1748, calculating using his known age at death) at the manse of Fintray in Aberdeenshire, the son of Rev Samuel Copland, from a family originating in Tough.[2]
In 1762, he won a bursary to Marischal College in Aberdeen. He was taught Mathematics under Prof John Stewart and Natural Philosophy under Prof George Skene. In 1774 Copland became assistant to Prof George Skene. In 1779 he replaced Prof William Traill as professor of Mathematics at Marischal.[3] He is known to have been an associate of the Linnean Society.[4]
In 1780, he began a public campaign to gather funds to build and equip the Castlehill Observatory in Aberdeen, and this was completed in October 1781, including a telescope by Peter Dollond at the recommendation of Nevil Maskelyne the Astronomer Royal. The observatory had considerable financial input from John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, who was also Chancellor of Marischal College at that time.[5] Curiously, in 1783, Copland was accused of involvement in the "Black Arts" through his numerous experiments with electricity at the Observatory, "drawing mischief out of the clouds with his electric batteries".[6] In 1803, he purchased Fountainhall House in Aberdeen (now 130 Blenheim Place) from his former mentor, Prof George Skene, and this remained his home until death.[7]
He resigned on 5 October 1822 and died around a month later, on 10 November 1822, aged 73.[8]
He was married to Elizabeth Ogilvie or Ogilvy. They had at least one son: Alexander Copland (b. 1788);[9] and one daughter, Mary Copland.[10]
References
^Patrick Copland: Aspects of his Life and Times at Marischal College, by Dr John S Reid
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Dr. John S. Reid. "PATRICK COPLAND 1748 – 1822: ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE AND TIMES AT MARISCHAL COLLEGE" (PDF). Homepages.abdn.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
^"Prof Patrick Copland". Geni.com. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
^"The Silver City Vault::Untitled Item". Silvercityvault.org.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
March 14, 2023
patrick, copland, frse, january, 1749, november, 1822, professor, mathematics, 1775, 1779, natural, philosophy, 1779, 1817, marischal, college, aberdeen, founder, royal, society, edinburgh, 1783, keen, astronomer, responsible, building, castlehill, observatory. Patrick Copland FRSE FSA LLD January 1749 10 November 1822 was a Professor of Mathematics 1775 1779 and Natural Philosophy 1779 1817 at Marischal College in Aberdeen He was a co founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783 He was a keen astronomer and was responsible for building the Castlehill Observatory in Aberdeen He was a pioneer of the use of demonstration equipment much of his own design to explain the principles of mathematics and physics 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Students 3 Family 4 ReferencesLife EditHe was born in January 1749 many sources erroneously state 1748 calculating using his known age at death at the manse of Fintray in Aberdeenshire the son of Rev Samuel Copland from a family originating in Tough 2 In 1762 he won a bursary to Marischal College in Aberdeen He was taught Mathematics under Prof John Stewart and Natural Philosophy under Prof George Skene In 1774 Copland became assistant to Prof George Skene In 1779 he replaced Prof William Traill as professor of Mathematics at Marischal 3 He is known to have been an associate of the Linnean Society 4 In 1780 he began a public campaign to gather funds to build and equip the Castlehill Observatory in Aberdeen and this was completed in October 1781 including a telescope by Peter Dollond at the recommendation of Nevil Maskelyne the Astronomer Royal The observatory had considerable financial input from John Stuart 3rd Earl of Bute who was also Chancellor of Marischal College at that time 5 Curiously in 1783 Copland was accused of involvement in the Black Arts through his numerous experiments with electricity at the Observatory drawing mischief out of the clouds with his electric batteries 6 In 1803 he purchased Fountainhall House in Aberdeen now 130 Blenheim Place from his former mentor Prof George Skene and this remained his home until death 7 He resigned on 5 October 1822 and died around a month later on 10 November 1822 aged 73 8 Students EditEdward Ellice merchant Robert Davidson inventor Family EditHe was married to Elizabeth Ogilvie or Ogilvy They had at least one son Alexander Copland b 1788 9 and one daughter Mary Copland 10 References Edit Patrick Copland Aspects of his Life and Times at Marischal College by Dr John S Reid Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 24 January 2013 Retrieved 11 November 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Dr John S Reid PATRICK COPLAND 1748 1822 ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE AND TIMES AT MARISCHAL COLLEGE PDF Homepages abdn ac uk Retrieved 30 October 2021 Transactions of the Linnean Society vol 9 The Castlehill Observatory Aberdeen by J S Reid p 84 90 The Castlehill Observatory Aberdeen by J S Reid p 92 Fountainhall House Patrick Copland s residence PDF Homepages abdn ac uk Retrieved 30 October 2021 The Edinburgh Annual Register 1822 Prof Patrick Copland Geni com Retrieved 30 October 2021 The Silver City Vault Untitled Item Silvercityvault org uk Retrieved 30 October 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patrick Copland amp oldid 1105693680, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
