Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811 (astronomer and mathematician)
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 263 Collections and/or Records:
Sanction for James Inman to replace John Crosley on the scientific expedition to New Holland, 1803
There are instructions for him to board the ship, details of observations to be made at sea and on shore, and general directions.
Series, c 1750-c 1800
Two scraps of paper containing miscellaneous calculations.
Set of loose notes concerning Nevil Maskelyne and family, 1774 - 1821
Set of notes originally tied with the memorandum book at RGO 218/2/1 [compiled by ?Nevil Maskelyne]. The notes concern genealogy (including births, deaths and marriages) and family and professional accounts, and include a sketch of two figures seated under a tree.
Table by J.J. Huber, 1786-09
Table in Latin concerning longitude, with an annotation from Nevil Maskelyne stating that it was part of a letter received from Huber at Basle on 21 September 1786.
Testimonial for Nevil Maskelyne from the Mathematical and Astronomical Professors at Cambridge, 1764-10-27
The Rev. Nevil Maskelyne's testimonial from the Mathematical and Astronomical Professors at Cambridge, in favour of his abilities as a fit person to execute the office of his Majesty's Astronomer at Greenwich. Signed by Roger Long, Robert Smith, Anthony Shepherd and Edward Waring.
Testimonial for Nevil Maskelyne from the Royal Society, 1764 - 1765
The Rev. Nevil Maskelyne's testimonial from the Right Honourable Earl of Morton, President, and the principal members of the Royal Society, in favour of his abilities as a fit person to execute the office of his Majesty's Astronomer at Greenwich.
Translated letter from Julian Canelas, Isle of Leon, 1806-10-05
The letter asking for observations of the occultations of Antares on 20 March 1805, and the solar eclipse on 16 June 1806 to compare with his own.
Trials of Harrison's chronometers, 1766 - 1771
Observations and comparisons during the trials of John Harrison's chronometers (H1, H2, H3 and H4) and Kendall I, with mean solar time, 1766-1767, and the rating of the Royal Observatory transit clock, 1771. The volume is comprised largely of tables of measurements, with some descriptions of how the results were achieved.
Undated note from Dr Layard, 1790 - 1800
The note seeks Maskelyne's vote for a candidate at the British Lying-in Hospital and thanks him for having obtained the proxy votes of his in-laws, the Ladies Clive (Maskelyne's sister Margaret had married Robert Clive). The note is covered with various computations.
W. Turner's account book & diary of a voyage to India, 1764-05-26 - 1765-04-17
A brief account book and diary by W. Turner of a voyage to India, 1764-1765, referring to Nevil Maskelyne and Lord Clive (Turner sailed on board the Prince of Wales Indiaman and met both gentlemen while his ship was anchored in Table Bay). The account book also includes a brief note on the text.
Warrant for payments to be made to Nevil Maskelyne in his role as Astronomical Observator, 1765-06-15
Set of documents relating to the Royal Observatory, wrapped in paper marked 'King's warrant of appointment to the Royal Observatory, appointment of visitors and sundry other papers relative to the Royal Observatory'.
William M. Dawes' correspondence during the establishment of an observatory at Port Jackson, New South Wales, 1786 - 1792
Zenith sector observations, 1749 - 1760
A working copy of observations made with a zenith sector, received by Nevil Maskelyne from Mr W. Wales, 11 March 1770. The volume includes a Latin piece on the orbits of Jupiter's satellites, and contains adjustments to the telescope and observational method.
Additional filters:
- ARCHON code (for CUL materials)
- Royal Greenwich Observatory (GBR/0180) 238
- Archives and MSS Dept. (GBR/0012) 25
- Subject
- London 57
- Greenwich 52
- Sydney 24
- Brockdish 20
- Portsmouth 17
- Astronomy 10
- Australia 9
- Barbados 9
- Paris 5
- Time measuring instruments 5
- Botany Bay 4
- Longitude 4
- Woolwich 4
- Cambridge 3
- India 3
- Marine navigation 3
- Nootka Sound 3
- Plymouth Sound 3
- Rio de Janeiro 3
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife 3
- Tenerife 3
- Bombay 2
- Brazil 2
- Cape Town 2
- Edinburgh 2
- England 2
- Geographical exploration 2
- Oxford 2
- Port Jackson 2
- Spithead 2
- Amesbury 1
- Azores 1
- Basel 1
- Bass Strait 1
- Bengkulu 1
- Beverley 1
- Bologna 1
- Boston 1
- Bridgetown 1
- Cape of Good Hope 1
- Christian calendar 1
- Covent Garden 1
- Czechoslovakia 1
- Dumbarton 1
- East Indies 1
- East Sheen 1
- Faial 1
- Fife 1
- Forton 1
- France 1
- Galway 1
- Geodesy 1
- Germany 1
- Gosport 1
- Herstmonceux 1
- Holborn 1
- Honiton 1
- Horology 1
- Huntingdon 1
- Isla de León 1
- Islington 1
- Italy 1
- Jackson, Port 1
- Jamaica 1
- Japan 1
- Lancaster 1
- Ludlow 1
- Lunar eclipses 1
- Madrid 1
- Margate 1
- Medical sciences 1
- Navigational aids 1
- New South Wales 1
- Paddington 1
- Philadelphia 1
- Prince Edward Island 1
- Royston 1
- Saint Germans 1
- Saint Helena 1
- Saint Petersburg 1
- Sherborne 1
- South Pacific Ocean 1
- Stoke Newington 1
- São Tiago 1
- Tahiti 1
- Tanger 1
- Torres Strait 1
- Travel 1
- Whitehaven 1 + ∧ Less