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Bird, John, 1709 - 1776 (maker of scientific instruments)

 Person

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

 File

Confirmed minutes, 1737 - 1779

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 14/5
Scope and Contents Minutes of Board of Longitude meetings regarding, among other matters, discussions on John Harrison's first marine chronometer (H1); the purchase of new instruments for work on the longitude and latitude of the coasts of Britain; improvements to the reflecting telescope; Tobias Mayer's lunar motion tables; the trial of John Harrison's chronometers; errors in the tables of the satellites; Schutz's machine for finding longitude; Chistopher Irwin's marine chair; the use of lunar observations...
Dates: 1737 - 1779
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).
 File

Dividing astronomical instruments, 1767

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 4/107
Scope and Contents

John Bird, 'The method of dividing astronomical instruments', dealing primarily with dividing the quadrant, sworn before and signed by Hawke and Storie, 21 March 1767. (MISSING)

Dates: 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).
 Item

Observations from Cook's last voyage, 1778-12-26 - 1780-08-18

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 14/61/1: 2r-37r
Scope and Contents Tabulated observations for the voyage, including records of the time by the watch or timekeeper, the apparent time, observed altitudes and lunar distances, estimates of latitude and longitude, magnetic variation, barometer and thermometer readings, and additional remarks. Reference is often made to the instruments used (including instruments by John Dollond, Jesse Ramsden, John Bird and Gowan Knight, and timekeepers by Larcum Kendall), and who made the observations (including Cook,...
Dates: 1778-12-26 - 1780-08-18
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).
 Item

Observations from Cook's last voyage, 1779-06-15 - 1780-08-26

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 14/61/3: 50r-100r
Scope and Contents Tabulated observations made by astronomer William Bayly. These include records of the time by the watch, apparent time, altitudes of the sun, moon and stars, observations of lunar distance, barometer and thermometer readings, estimates of latitude and longitude, and magnetic variation.Occasional remarks on the observations are included: for example, in [RGO 14/61/3: 57r] Bayly records that his instruments were taken on shore at Kamchatka, Russia, where observations were made from 26...
Dates: 1779-06-15 - 1780-08-26
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).
 Item

Observations taken on Drakes Isle on Plymouth Sound, 1772-06-29 - 1772-07-09

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 14/57: 1v-2v
Scope and Contents

The observations begin with a note on the going of the astronomical clock and on Mr Arnold’s watch. Included are observations of equal altitudes observed with an astronomical quadrant by Bird; observations for finding the latitude; comparisons of Mr Arnold’s Watch No. 2 with the astronomical clock; transits of the moon and stars over the meridian; and observations on the west variation of the meridian.

Dates: 1772-06-29 - 1772-07-09
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).
 File

Quadrant and zenith sector observations, 1765 - 1786

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 4/28
Scope and Contents A rough copy of quadrant and zenith sector observations of major stars. The volume begins with a list of Maskelyne's assistants and a note on days on which each star was observed with the quadrant, 1765-1776. The book deals at length with quadrant observations from 7 May 1765 to 30 December 1785, mentioning tests on John Bird's thermometer and adjustments and alterations to observational technique. There are zenith sector observations for the years 1768-1769 and 1776-1777; observed distances...
Dates: 1765 - 1786
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).

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Alaska 2
Cape of Good Hope 2
Côn Đảo 2
Hawaii 2
Japan 2