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Robert Grant (astronomer)

January 01, 1970

Robert Grant, FRS (17 June 1814 – 24 October 1892) was a Scottish astronomer.

Career edit

He was born on 17 June 1814 at Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire, where his father was engaged in trade. An illness of six years interrupted his education, and he taught himself, on his recovery at age 19, in Greek, Latin, French, Italian, and mathematics. After some brief study at King's College, Aberdeen, he entered in 1841 his brother's counting-house in London, and there set about collecting materials for a history of astronomy.

Grant pursued researches in Paris from 1845 to 1847, earning a livelihood by teaching English while attending Arago's and Leverrier's lectures. His History of Physical Astronomy from the Earliest Ages to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century, partially issued by the Society of Useful Knowledge in 1848-9, appeared in a complete form in March 1852, and earned Grant the award in 1856 of the Royal Astronomical Society's gold medal. He was elected a fellow of the Society on 14 June 1850; he edited the Monthly Notices 1852-60,[1] and sat on the council 1853-60. In 1855 and 1865, he received degrees of M.A. and LL.D. respectively from the university of Aberdeen, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in the latter year.[2]

Having qualified as a practical astronomer by working for some months at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Grant was appointed in 1859 to succeed John Pringle Nichol as professor of astronomy and director of the observatory in the university of Glasgow. The only available part of its equipment was a six-inch transit-circle by Ertel,[note 1] and with it Grant made a long series of meridian observations, the results of which were embodied in A Catalogue of 6415 Stars for the Epoch 1870, published at Glasgow in 1883. The introduction contains a discussion of proper motions. A supplementary Catalogue of 2156 Stars appeared a few weeks after his death. Both were compiled with the minimum of assistance.

A nine-inch Cooke equatorial was mounted under Grant's supervision in 1863, and was employed by him for observations of planets, comets, and double stars. He joined the Himalaya expedition to Spain for the total eclipse of 18 July 1860, and from his station near Vittoria watched the disclosure of the chromosphere and prominences, the true nature of which he had been one of the first to infer. He originated in 1861 the electrically controlled time service of Glasgow, and co-operated with Sir George Biddell Airy in 1865 in determining, by means of galvanic signals, the difference of longitude between Glasgow and Greenwich. The Leonid meteors of 1866 and 1868, the Andromeda of 1872 and 1885, and the ingress of Venus at the transit of 1882 were observed by him, and formed the subjects of communications to the Royal Astronomical Society. In a letter to the Times of 20 Sept. 1867, he traced the forged Pascal papers to their source in the third edition of Newton's Principia.[2]

Grant died on 24 October 1892 at Grantown-on-Spey.[2]

Family edit

He married on 3 Sept. 1874 Elizabeth Emma Davison of Newcastle, New South Wales, and co. Monaghan, Ireland, by whom he left one son and three daughters.[2]

Works edit

He published translations of Arago's Biographies of Distinguished Scientific Men, 1854, and Popular Treatise on Comets, 1861 ; and, with Admiral William Henry Smyth, of Arago's Popular Astronomy, 2 vols. 1855 and 1858. Many articles by him were inserted in Knight's English Cyclopaedia, and he contributed as well to the Astronomische Nachrichten, the Comptes Rendus, and the Proceedings of the Philosophical Society of Glasgow, of which body he acted as president during three years.[2]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Ertel (Traugott Lebrecht Ertel [Fribourg 1778 - Munich 1858]) built mathematical instruments at the Mathematical-Mechanical Institute of Munich.

References edit

  1. ^ Dreyer, John L. E.; Turner, Herbert H. (1923). History of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1820-1920. Vol. 1. London: Royal Astronomical Society., page 187
  2. ^ a b c d e Clerke 1901.
Attribution

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Clerk, Agnes Mary (1901). "Grant, Robert (1814-1892)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Bibliography edit

  • Paola Presciuttini (1989). . www.sullacrestadellonda.it. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2011.

External links edit

  • Robert Grant from gen.deltanz.net (Robert Grant's autobiographical notes for his nephew)
  • Dr. Robert Grant from gen.deltanz.net
  • Works by Robert Grant at Project Gutenberg
  • Works by or about Robert Grant at Internet Archive
Academic offices
Preceded by Regius Professor of Practical Astronomy
at Glasgow University
1859–1893 		Succeeded by

January 01, 1970
robert, grant, astronomer, robert, grant, june, 1814, october, 1892, scottish, astronomer, contents, career, family, works, notes, references, bibliography, external, linkscareer, edithe, born, june, 1814, grantown, spey, morayshire, where, father, engaged, tr. Robert Grant FRS 17 June 1814 24 October 1892 was a Scottish astronomer Contents 1 Career 2 Family 3 Works 4 Notes 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksCareer editHe was born on 17 June 1814 at Grantown on Spey Morayshire where his father was engaged in trade An illness of six years interrupted his education and he taught himself on his recovery at age 19 in Greek Latin French Italian and mathematics After some brief study at King s College Aberdeen he entered in 1841 his brother s counting house in London and there set about collecting materials for a history of astronomy Grant pursued researches in Paris from 1845 to 1847 earning a livelihood by teaching English while attending Arago s and Leverrier s lectures His History of Physical Astronomy from the Earliest Ages to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century partially issued by the Society of Useful Knowledge in 1848 9 appeared in a complete form in March 1852 and earned Grant the award in 1856 of the Royal Astronomical Society s gold medal He was elected a fellow of the Society on 14 June 1850 he edited the Monthly Notices 1852 60 1 and sat on the council 1853 60 In 1855 and 1865 he received degrees of M A and LL D respectively from the university of Aberdeen and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in the latter year 2 Having qualified as a practical astronomer by working for some months at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Grant was appointed in 1859 to succeed John Pringle Nichol as professor of astronomy and director of the observatory in the university of Glasgow The only available part of its equipment was a six inch transit circle by Ertel note 1 and with it Grant made a long series of meridian observations the results of which were embodied in A Catalogue of 6415 Stars for the Epoch 1870 published at Glasgow in 1883 The introduction contains a discussion of proper motions A supplementary Catalogue of 2156 Stars appeared a few weeks after his death Both were compiled with the minimum of assistance A nine inch Cooke equatorial was mounted under Grant s supervision in 1863 and was employed by him for observations of planets comets and double stars He joined the Himalaya expedition to Spain for the total eclipse of 18 July 1860 and from his station near Vittoria watched the disclosure of the chromosphere and prominences the true nature of which he had been one of the first to infer He originated in 1861 the electrically controlled time service of Glasgow and co operated with Sir George Biddell Airy in 1865 in determining by means of galvanic signals the difference of longitude between Glasgow and Greenwich The Leonid meteors of 1866 and 1868 the Andromeda of 1872 and 1885 and the ingress of Venus at the transit of 1882 were observed by him and formed the subjects of communications to the Royal Astronomical Society In a letter to the Times of 20 Sept 1867 he traced the forged Pascal papers to their source in the third edition of Newton s Principia 2 Grant died on 24 October 1892 at Grantown on Spey 2 Family editHe married on 3 Sept 1874 Elizabeth Emma Davison of Newcastle New South Wales and co Monaghan Ireland by whom he left one son and three daughters 2 Works editHe published translations of Arago s Biographies of Distinguished Scientific Men 1854 and Popular Treatise on Comets 1861 and with Admiral William Henry Smyth of Arago s Popular Astronomy 2 vols 1855 and 1858 Many articles by him were inserted in Knight s English Cyclopaedia and he contributed as well to the Astronomische Nachrichten the Comptes Rendus and the Proceedings of the Philosophical Society of Glasgow of which body he acted as president during three years 2 Notes edit Ertel Traugott Lebrecht Ertel Fribourg 1778 Munich 1858 built mathematical instruments at the Mathematical Mechanical Institute of Munich References edit Dreyer John L E Turner Herbert H 1923 History of the Royal Astronomical Society 1820 1920 Vol 1 London Royal Astronomical Society page 187 a b c d e Clerke 1901 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Clerk Agnes Mary 1901 Grant Robert 1814 1892 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography 1st supplement London Smith Elder amp Co Bibliography editPaola Presciuttini 1989 Extract from The instrumentation in the history of the Astronomical Observatory of Brera published by Milan University www sullacrestadellonda it Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 10 October 2011 External links editRobert Grant from gen deltanz net Robert Grant s autobiographical notes for his nephew Dr Robert Grant from gen deltanz net Works by Robert Grant at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Robert Grant at Internet Archive Academic offices Preceded byJohn Nichol Regius Professor of Practical Astronomyat Glasgow University1859 1893 Succeeded byLudwig Becker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Grant astronomer amp oldid 1176661573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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