Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811 (astronomer and mathematician)

Person

Dates

Existence: 1732 - 1811

Biography

Nevil Maskelyne (1732-1811), astronomer and mathematician, was born in London on 6 October 1732, and educated at Westminster School. He entered Catherine Hall, Cambridge, in 1749, but migrated subsequently to Trinity College (B.A., 1754; M.A., 1757; D.D., 1777), where he became a Fellow in 1757. He was ordained curate of Barnet, Hertfordshire, in 1755, and received the living of Shrawardine, Shropshire, 1775, and the rectory of North Runcton, Norfolk, 1782. He was appointed Astronomer Royal in 1765 and oversaw the publication of the first 'Nautical Almanac' in 1766. In 1774 he planned and superintended the Schiehallion Experiment, which attempted to determine the earth's density by examining the gravitational attraction of a mountain in Perthshire. During his lifetime, he made over 90,000 observations, which were published in instalments between 1776 and 1811. He died at Greenwich Observatory on 9 February 1811.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

File

Computations, tables and observations, 1718 - 1767

File

Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 2/18

Scope and Contents Computations, tables, observations and miscellaneous papers. Nos 19-43 are bound together in the form of an exercise book.1. Observations of the planets, 17-18 May 1737, in Latin.2. Observations and calculations for 23-24 July 1739. 3. Observations at Stoke Newington, London, 1738. 4. Observations by J.N. Lillee of the passage of the Moon at Petersburg, 2-3 January 1738.5. Lunar observations at Paris, 1729-1723.6. French account of an...

Dates: 1718 - 1767

Conditions Governing Access: From the Management Group: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives / Papers of Edmond Halley

Item

Proposal from George Douglas, 1795-05-08

Item

Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 14/36: 153-154

Scope and Contents

Marked by Maskelyne as unworthy of the Board's attention.

Dates: 1795-05-08

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives / Papers of the Board of Longitude / Correspondence regarding methods of establishing longitude by Jupiter's satellites, the planets and fixed stars / George Douglas on a method using the altitude of the sun or stars

Filtered By

Subject: Edinburgh X

ArchiveSearch