Kew Observatory and the Evolution of Victorian Science, 1840–1910
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy by George Biddell Airy 1
Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy by George Biddell Airy 1 CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy by George Biddell Airy The Project Gutenberg EBook of Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy by George Biddell Airy This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy by George Biddell Airy 2 License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy Author: George Biddell Airy Release Date: January 9, 2004 [EBook #10655] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR GEORGE AIRY *** Produced by Joseph Myers and PG Distributed Proofreaders AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SIR GEORGE BIDDELL AIRY, K.C.B., M.A., LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., HONORARY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, ASTRONOMER ROYAL FROM 1836 TO 1881. EDITED BY WILFRID AIRY, B.A., M.Inst.C.E. 1896 PREFACE. The life of Airy was essentially that of a hard-working, business man, and differed from that of other hard-working people only in the quality and variety of his work. It was not an exciting life, but it was full of interest, and his work brought him into close relations with many scientific men, and with many men high in the State. -
The Kew Photoheliograph
THE KEW PHOTOHELIOGRAPH PEDRO RÉ http://pedroreastrophotography.com/ The Kew Photoheliograph (Figure 1) was the first telescope specifically designed for solar photography. It was commissioned in 1854 and named after the Kew Observatory where it has housed. The Photoheliograph was designed by Warren De la Rue (1815-1889) (Figure 2) for the London Royal Society in 1857 and made by Andrew Ross (1798-1859). It was mainly used for daily photography of the Sun at the Kew Observatory and the Royal Observatory of Greenwich. It was also transported to Rivabellosa in Northern Spain where it was used to photograph the Total eclipse of the Sun on July 18th, 1860. Figure 1- The Kew Photoheliograph. The first solar photographs were obtained by Hippolyte Fizeau and Leon Focault in 1844. The first photographs of the partial phase of a total solar eclipse and of the solar spectrum were also obtained in the 1840s. In 1849 Hervé Faye made an important communication to the Frech Academy of Sciences proposing the continuous photographic survey of the Sun: If a solar image is formed in the daguerrotype plate ... the same measurements can be repeated later on and compared with contemporaneous ones ... The same procedure may be applied to the determination of the heliocentric sunspot co-ordinates ... On April 24, 1854 John Herschel wrote to Edward Sabine: I consider it an object of very considerable importance to secure at some observatory, and indeed at more than one, in different localities, daily photographic representations of the sun, with a view to keep up a consecutive and perfectly faithful record of the history of the spots. -
The Electric Telegraph
To Mark, Karen and Paul CONTENTS page ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENTS TO 1837 13 Early experiments—Francis Ronalds—Cooke and Wheatstone—successful experiment on the London & Birmingham Railway 2 `THE CORDS THAT HUNG TAWELL' 29 Use on the Great Western and Blackwall railways—the Tawell murder—incorporation of the Electric Tele- graph Company—end of the pioneering stage 3 DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE COMPANIES 46 Early difficulties—rivalry between the Electric and the Magnetic—the telegraph in London—the overhouse system—private telegraphs and the press 4 AN ANALYSIS OF THE TELEGRAPH INDUSTRY TO 1868 73 The inland network—sources of capital—the railway interest—analysis of shareholdings—instruments- working expenses—employment of women—risks of submarine telegraphy—investment rating 5 ACHIEVEMENT IN SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY I o The first cross-Channel links—the Atlantic cable— links with India—submarine cable maintenance com- panies 6 THE CASE FOR PUBLIC ENTERPRISE 119 Background to the nationalisation debate—public attitudes—the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce— Frank Ives. Scudamore reports—comparison with continental telegraph systems 7 NATIONALISATION 1868 138 Background to the Telegraph Bill 1868—tactics of the 7 8 CONTENTS Page companies—attitudes of the press—the political situa- tion—the Select Committee of 1868—agreement with the companies 8 THE TELEGRAPH ACTS 154 Terms granted to the telegraph and railway companies under the 1868 Act—implications of the 1869 telegraph monopoly 9 THE POST OFFICE TELEGRAPH 176 The period 87o-1914—reorganisation of the -
1 AA Issue 4 Final Print Version 10 Dec 07.Pub
g{x TÇà|ÖâtÜ|tÇ TáàÜÉÇÉÅxÜ Journal of the Society for the History of Astronomy Issue 4 January 2008 ISSN 1740-3677 The cover illustration The Oxford heliometer ontinuing the anniversary theme of previous covers of The Antiquarian Astronomer, this issue shows an engraving of the Oxford heliometer1. Ordered from the instrument maker A & G Repsold, C Hamburg, Germany, in 1841, the heliometer began work 160 years ago, in 1848. It was the only large example of this type of instrument installed at an observatory in Britain. The heliometer (more correctly a divided-objective-lens micrometer) was conceived by Ole Römer (1644-1710), and improved by the optician, John Dollond (1706-1761). His design used an objective lens bisected across the diameter, each part having the same focal length, and served by one eyepiece. Mounted in a frame, each semi-lens could be moved along its diameter using a fine screw-thread. The displacement between the two images gives a very precise measure of the angular separation of the stars under observa- tion, or the apparent diameter of the Sun or planet. Significant work using a heliometer was not achieved until a 6-inch instrument was delivered to the Königsberg Observatory in 1829. Designed by Joseph Fraun- hofer (1787-1826), this heliometer was used by Friedrich Bessel (1784-1846) to measure the parallax of the star 61 Cygni - the first accurate measure of the distance to the stars. Against this background of German success in using the heliometer, the trustees of the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, England, opted to acquire an example with a 7½-inch diameter objective lens. -
Methods of Social Reform
METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM. METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM AND OTHER PAPERS BY W. STANLEY JEVONS, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. &mbm MACMILLAN AND CO. 1883 [All sightr rW.1 PREFACE. A FEW words will explain that this volume is a collection of the Essays published under the title of Methods of Social Reform” in The Contemporary Rcckw, and of otherpapers and addresses on kindredsubjects. They extend over a period of fifteen years, and I have given at the commencement of eachpaper the date at which it was written, 89 I have thought it better to arrange them as far &9 I Could according to subjects rather than by date. It was my husband’s inten- tion to have republished these Essays himself, and with this view hehad already revised two of them--“ Experimental Legislation and the Drink Traffic,” and “Amusements of the People ;” to the latter he had added several new paragraphs, He would, I am sure, have carefully edited and revised the others in the same way, but they are now republished just as theywere originally written. The Essay on “The Use and Abnse of Museums ’’ has not before been published. It was chie0y written in 1881, for Contemporary Reuieu~,but wm laid aside from the pressure of other work, and I am unable to say the exact time at which it waa hished. It still the halrevision which he wodd have given before sending it vi PREFACE. to Prerre. The Lecture on rr Industrial Partnerships" ie m- fedto by Mr. Jevona in his book on Ir The State in Relation to Labour,'' * p. -
The Charles Knight-Joseph Hooker Correspondence
A man tenax propositi: transcriptions of letters from Charles Knight to William Jackson Hooker and Joseph Dalton Hooker between 1852 and 1883 David J. Galloway Hon. Research Associate Landcare Research, and Te Papa Tongarewa [email protected] Geoscience Society of New Zealand miscellaneous publication 133J December 2013 Published by the Geoscience Society of New Zealand Inc, 2013 Information on the Society and its publications is given at www.gsnz.org.nz © Copyright David J. Galloway, 2013 Geoscience Society of New Zealand miscellaneous publication 133J ISBN 978-1-877480-36-2 ISSN 2230-4495 (Online) ISSN 2230-4487 (Print) This document is available as a PDF file that can be downloaded from the Geoscience Society website at: http://www.gsnz.org.nz/information/misc-series-i-49.html Bibliographic Reference Galloway D.J. 2013: A man tenax propositi: transcriptions of letters from Charles Knight to William Jackson Hooker and Joseph Dalton Hooker between 1852 and 1883 Geoscience Society of New Zealand miscellaneous publication 133J. 88 pages. A man tenax propositi: transcriptions of letters from Charles Knight to William Jackson Hooker and Joseph Dalton Hooker between 1852 and 1883 Contents Introduction 3 Charles Knight correspondence at Kew 5 Acknowledgements 6 Summaries of the letters 7 Transcriptions of the letters from Charles Knight 15 Footnotes 70 References 77 Figure 1: Dr Charles Knight FLS, FRCS 2 Figure 2: Group photograph including Charles Knight 2 Figure 3: Page of letter from Knight to Hooker 14 Table 1: Comparative chronology of Charles Knight, W.J. Hooker and J.D. Hooker 86 1 Figure 1: Dr Charles Knight FLS, FRCS Alexander Turnbull Library,Wellington, New Zealand ¼-015414 Figure 2: Group taken in Walter Mantell‟s garden about 1865 showing Charles Knight (left), John Buchanan and James Hector (right) and Walter Mantell and his young son, Walter Godfrey Mantell (seated on grass). -
Astbury (Arthur Kenelm)
ASTBURY (ARTHUR KENELM). The black fens. 8 0 Cambridge, 1958. .91(4259) Ast. ASTBURY (JOHN). Diss. ... inaug. de morbis cutaneis. 8 0 Edin. , 1781. Att. 77.7.7/16. --- Another copy. Att. 77.7.8/16. ASTBURY (NORMAN FREDERICK). Introduction to electrical applied physics. 80 Lond. , 1956. Engin. Lib. ASTBURY (WILLIAM THOMAS). Fundamentals of fibre structure. With an introd. by Sir W. Bragg. 80 Lond.. 1933. C. M. L. --- Textile fibres under the X-rays. 80 Birmingham pr., n. d. 5397:. 6335 Ast. [ASTELL (MARY). ] An essay in defence of the female sex. In which are inserted the characters of a pedant, a squire, a beau, a vertuoso, a poetaster, a city-critick, &c. In a letter to a lady. Written by a lady. 2nd ed. 120 Lond. , 1696. GGE . a—.4. E-B. 39e Asf ADDITIONS 1 AST B URY (RAYMOND) . --- ed. Libraries and the book trade; papers delivered at a symposium held at Liverpool School of Librarian- ship, May 1967 ... Lond. , 1968. .6555:.02 Ast. --- ed. The writer in the market place. See WRITER (The) in the market place. ASTELL (MARY) continued]. --- A fair way with the Dissenters and their patrons. Not writ by M. L ----- y, or any other furious Jacobite . but by a very moderate person and dutiful subject to the Queen [i.e. M.A.]. Lond., 1704. *A.7.15 4- --- An impartial enquiry into the causes of rebellion and civil war in this kingdom in an examination of Dr. Kennett's sermon, Jan. 31, 1703/4, and indication of the royal martyr. LAnon.1 Lond., 1704. -
De La Rue Company Archive MS
University Museums and Special Collections Service De La Rue Company Archive MS 937 The collection consists of financial and business records including account books, ledgers, cash books etc. (1837-1964); insurance documents (1871-1936); inventories (1920-1921); J.A. Weir minute books (1896-1921); De La Rue minute books (1919-1948); trade lists and price lists (1849-1911), registers. The collection also contains designs of material produced, including several pieces by Owen Jones, together with proofs and specimens of material such as cards, tickets, labels, diaries, stationery and programmes (1787-1960). Note books and photographs cover a wide range of subjects, including the earliest known English cheque (1664). Printed material includes various extracts and articles from publications relating to De La Rue (1749-1963), together with copies of De La Rue journal nos. 1-46 (1947-1963), Formica journal (incomplete, 1956-1961), Formica vol. 5 no. 3 (1961), Formica news vol. 1 no. 6 (1961), Furniture today nos. 1-10 (1961-1965), System vol. 1 nos. 1 & 2 (1961) , nos. 11 & 12 (1964). Other material relates to members of the De La Rue family, such as 23 extracts from Guernsey church registers, deeds, employment agreements, engravings of Warren De La Rue (1882 & 1894), and news cuttings. The collection also includes specifications for the envelope-folding machine patented by Warren De La Rue. The Collection covers the year’s 1830-1965. The physical extent of the collection is c. 50 boxes, plus c. 250 ledgers. Introduction Thomas De La Rue set up as printer, stationer and manufacturer of fancy goods in London in 1821, having previously been a Guernsey newspaper publisher. -
Sir Francis Ronalds
SIR FRANCIS RONALDS Sir Francis Ronalds was a well-known nineteenth-century scientist who came to live at Battle; he died there and is buried in the cemetery. He was the brother in law of Samuel Carter, who built Telham Court, (see Houses and families) and like him a Unitarian. Ronalds's family was based in Brentford, Middlesex, with its first known male moving there from Moidart in Invernessshire by 1754 and living as a nurseryman. He was the grandfather of Sir Francis, who was born on 21 February 1788. The records show Francis's father as a London merchant, which is a term needing much elaboration to determine his social position. Another report states that he was a cheesemonger. Francis was born in Middlesex on 21 February 1788. It is probably not now well-known just how revolutionary the electric telegraph was. It allowed people to communicate almost instantly across any distance and in all weathers, in codes easily translatable into written languages. Before then the only such method was by semaphore signalling, a laborious, line-of-sight system relying on each signaller being able clearly to see the next one in line; this was the process by which urgent messages were sent between London and Portsmouth, for example, during the Napoleonic wars. It was, however, preferable to the earlier use of simple beacons, which would indicate only that there was some form of emergency. The heliograph, which made use of sunlight signals from mirrors, appeared only in the 1820s. The telegraph was the marvel of the age. In 1845, for example, a suspected murderer caught the train at Slough but was noticed; by the time that he arrived at Paddington the police were waiting for him. -
Sir George Biddell Airy (1801 – 1892)
Sir George Biddell Airy (1801 – 1892) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Biddell_Airy Sir George Biddell Airy PRS KCB was an English mathematician and astronomer, Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881. His many achievements include work on planetary orbits, measuring the mean density of the Earth, a method of solution of two-dimensional problems in solid mechanics and, in his role as Astronomer Royal, establishing Greenwich as the location of the prime meridian. His reputation has been tarnished by allegations that, through his inaction, Britain lost the opportunity of priority in the discovery of Neptune. Biography: Airy was born at Alnwick, one of a long line of Airys who traced their descent back to a family of the same name residing at Kentmere, in Westmorland, in the 14th century. The branch to which he belonged, having suffered in the English Civil War, moved to Lincolnshire and became farmers. Airy was educated first at elementary schools in Hereford, and afterwards at Colchester Royal Grammar School. An introverted child, Airy gained popularity with his schoolmates through his great skill in the construction of peashooters. From the age of 13, Airy stayed frequently with his uncle, Arthur Biddell at Playford, Suffolk. Biddell introduced Airy to his friend Thomas Clarkson, the slave trade abolitionist who lived at Playford Hall. Clarkson had an MA in mathematics from Cambridge, and examined Airy in classics and then subsequently arranged for him to be examined by a Fellow from Trinity College, Cambridge on his knowledge of mathematics. As a result he entered Trinity in 1819, as a sizar, meaning that he paid a reduced fee but essentially worked as a servant to make good the fee reduction. -
De La Rue RUL MS 937
vis04njf Section name Library Special Collections Service De La Rue RUL MS 937 Handlist 1/1 Folder containing twenty mounted specimens of railway tickets in assorted colours, produced by Thomas De La Rue and Co. Ltd, 110 Bunhill Row, London: c. 1900. 1/3 Specimen of an ‘At Home’ book (in a protective box) bound and gilt-edged by Thomas De La Rue and Co. Ltd: c. 1890. 1/5 Specimen copy of De La Rue’s improved indelible diary and memorandum book, 1863. 1/6 Wooden frame, with brass trimmings, for the production of paper water-marked ‘De La Rue and Co., London’: c. 1870. (In Box 15) 1/7 De La Rue and Co.: index to prices in private day book E: 1872-1874. 1/9 De La Rue and Co.: index to prices in private day book F: 1874-1876. 2/3 Embossing block mounted on wooden base: c. 1870. 3/1 Two glass negatives and two sets of photographic prints of De La Rue and Co.’s improved pocket chess board and chess men complete: 1846. 3/2 Printed schedule of prices of adhesive stamps, bank notes, post cards and other stamped articles; dies plates, embossing presses and obliterating ink: March 1911. 3/3 Album containing mounted pen and ink drawings, prints, embossed papers, watercolours, pencil drawings; inscribed ‘Maria C. Dalyell from her Affectionate Aunt Hennis Edinburgh 22nd April 1840’. 3/4 Album of engravings of Greek and other statuary, vases, ornaments, utensils, portraits, pencil drawings, advertisements: c. 1860. 3/5 Seccombe, T. S. ‘The Story of Prince Hildebrand and the Princess Ida’…with 110 illustrations by the author. -
SIS Bulletin Index Issues 1 to 80
Scientific Instrument Society Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society Index No 1 to No 80 Scientific Instrument Society Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society Index No 1 to No 80 Contents Introduction Index of Topics 3 Index of Articles 37 Index of Book Reviews 51 The Scientific Instrument Society 61 Documents Associated with the Index 61 Introduction Development of the Index of the Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society The first 40 issues of the Bulletin were indexed successively, ten issues at a time. With the advent of No 50 it was decided to amalgamate the earlier work and create a single index for all 50 issues. The work involved was a vast undertaking requiring the use of optical character recognition and other computer techniques on the earlier work, and a good deal of careful proof reading. The final product was handsomely produced in A4 size uniform with the Bulletin, running to 64 index pages. Having reached 80 issues, a similar combining exercise has been done, but with fewer categories within the Index. However, whilst the main index of individual topics remains as comprehensive as previously it is presented in a smaller typeface and makes use of more columns. At the time of printing, consideration is being given to the use of this new Index as a facility on the Society's website and also in connection with CDROMs of the Bulletin. Notes for using the 3 sections of the Bulletin Index, Issue No 1 to Issue No 80 Index of Topics Topics are arranged alphabetically by subject. References are shown as 'Issue No : Page No' eg 2:15 or 45:7-11 Index of Articles Authors of articles are listed alphabetically with the titles of their articles following in issue order.