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 6 Collections and/or Records:
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9597/4/4
Scope and Contents
Possibly in the hand of Nevil Maskelyne.
Dates:
c 1710-c 1749
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Please enquire at the Manuscripts Reading Room desk if you would like to view items from the Macclesfield Collection.
Series — Box: MS Add.9563: Box 1
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9563/173-175
Scope and Contents
[173] NEVIL MASKELYNE: LETTER TO DAVIES GIDDY, 1809 Nevil Maskelyne (1732-1811)), Astronomer Royal; Davies Giddy (later Gilbert) (1767- 1839), MP scientific administrator, mathematician. 11 AUG 1809: Dunkin, computation of Nautical Almanac, Board of Longitude; with (ii) scrap from another letter, and (iii) engraved portrait of Maskelyne. [174] JOHN POND: LETTER TO AN UNNAMED PERSON, n.d. John Pond (1767-1836), Astronomer Royal, 1811-35. N.d., Kaln and Herschel are to try out the...
Dates:
1809-1818
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
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).
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 1/77
Scope and Contents
Concerning calculations of the time of the lunar eclipse of 3 April [AD] 33 [and its identification as eclipse recorded as occurring on the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ].
Dates:
1703-11-27
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).
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.4251/944
Scope and Contents
From the Fonds:
Artificial collection of single item or small collection accessions. Mainly correspondence but includes other papers.
Dates:
1773
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
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).
Series — Box: MS Add.9563: Box 1
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9563/78
Scope and Contents
1 letter 20 January 1767, asking for 'a nautical almanac stitched in blue
Dates:
January 1767
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
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).
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9597/17/5
Scope and Contents
Two scraps of paper containing miscellaneous calculations.
Dates:
c 1750-c 1800
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Please enquire at the Manuscripts Reading Room desk if you would like to view items from the Macclesfield Collection.