His nature was eminently practical, and any subject which had a distinctly practical object, and could be advanced by mathematical investigation, possessed interest for him. And his dislike of mere theoretical problems and investigations was proportionately great. He was continually at war with some of the resident Cambridge mathematicians on this subject. …and conducted an interesting and acrimonious private correspondence with Professor Cayley on the same …

His nature was eminently practical, and any subject which had a distinctly practical object, and could be advanced by mathematical investigation, possessed interest for him. And his dislike of mere theoretical problems and investigations was proportionately great. He was continually at war with some of the resident Cambridge mathematicians on this subject. …and conducted an […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

The ruling feature of his character was undoubtedly Order. …He seems not to have destroyed a document of any kind whatever: counterfoils of old cheque-books, notes for tradesmen, circulars, bills, and correspondence of all sorts were carefully preserved in the most complete order… To a high appreciation of order he attributed in a great degree his command of mathematics, and sometimes spoke of mathematics as nothing more than a system of order carried to a considerable extent. In everything he was methodical and orderly, and he had the greatest dread of disorder creeping into the routine work of the Observatory, even in the smallest matters.

The ruling feature of his character was undoubtedly Order. …He seems not to have destroyed a document of any kind whatever: counterfoils of old cheque-books, notes for tradesmen, circulars, bills, and correspondence of all sorts were carefully preserved in the most complete order… To a high appreciation of order he attributed in a great degree […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

His eye-sight was peculiar, and required correction by spectacles the lenses of which were ground to peculiar curves according to formulae which he himself investigated: with these spectacles he saw extremely well, and he commonly carried three pairs, adapted to different distances: he took great interest in the changes that took place in his eye-sight and wrote several Papers on the subject.

His eye-sight was peculiar, and required correction by spectacles the lenses of which were ground to peculiar curves according to formulae which he himself investigated: with these spectacles he saw extremely well, and he commonly carried three pairs, adapted to different distances: he took great interest in the changes that took place in his eye-sight […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

The history of the early part of his life was written in great detail and contained a large quantity of family matter which was evidently not intended for publication. This part of the Autobiography has been compressed. The history of the latter part of his life was not written by himself at all, and has been compiled from his Journal and other sources. In both these cases, and occasionally in short paragraphs throughout the narrative, it has been found convenient to write the history in the third person.

The history of the early part of his life was written in great detail and contained a large quantity of family matter which was evidently not intended for publication. This part of the Autobiography has been compressed. The history of the latter part of his life was not written by himself at all, and has […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

[E]very subject of a distinctly practical nature, which could be advanced by mathematical knowledge, had an interest for him… Amongst such subjects were Tides and Tidal Observations, Clockwork, and the Strains in Beams and Bridges. A certain portion of his time was also given to Lectures, generally on current astronomical questions, for he held it as his duty to popularize the science as far as lay in his power. And he… took a very active part in the discussions and business of the [Royal Astronomical] Society. He also did much work for the Royal Society and… for the British Association.

[E]very subject of a distinctly practical nature, which could be advanced by mathematical knowledge, had an interest for him… Amongst such subjects were Tides and Tidal Observations, Clockwork, and the Strains in Beams and Bridges. A certain portion of his time was also given to Lectures, generally on current astronomical questions, for he held it […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

There was… much work on important subjects more or less connected with his official duties—such as geodetical survey work, the establishment of time-balls at different places, longitude determinations, observation of eclipses, and the determination of the density of the Earth. Lastly, there was a great deal of time and work given to questions… on which the Government asked his assistance in the capacity of general scientific adviser: such were the Correction of the Compass in iron ships, the Railway Gauge Commission, the Commission for the Restoration of the Standards of Length and Weight, the Maine Boundary Lighthouses, the Westminster Clock, the London University, and many other questions.

There was… much work on important subjects more or less connected with his official duties—such as geodetical survey work, the establishment of time-balls at different places, longitude determinations, observation of eclipses, and the determination of the density of the Earth. Lastly, there was a great deal of time and work given to questions… on which […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

His real business life commenced after he became Astronomer Royal, and from that time forward, during the 46 years that he remained in office, he was so entirely wrapped up in the duties of his post that the history of the Observatory is the history of his life.

His real business life commenced after he became Astronomer Royal, and from that time forward, during the 46 years that he remained in office, he was so entirely wrapped up in the duties of his post that the history of the Observatory is the history of his life.

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

The Illustrated Review… to which we are indebted for the preceding statements, remarks that, since the death of Sir John Herschel… Sir George Airy, the Astronomer Royal, is the admitted master of the sublime science. There are other eminent English astronomers—as John Hinde, the discoverer of many asteroids, and John Adams, also a Cambridge Senior Wrangler and the rival of Urban Leverrier, who groped his way by mathematical calculation to the discovery of the hitherto unknown planet Neptune. If incidents as brilliant and remarkable as these are wanting in the history of Sir George Airy, his claims to respect are equally valuable, solid, and enduring.

The Illustrated Review… to which we are indebted for the preceding statements, remarks that, since the death of Sir John Herschel… Sir George Airy, the Astronomer Royal, is the admitted master of the sublime science. There are other eminent English astronomers—as John Hinde, the discoverer of many asteroids, and John Adams, also a Cambridge Senior […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

For his successful optical theories he has… the Copley Gold Medal of the Royal Society. The Royal Gold Medal of the same society has been given to him in recompense for his tidal investigations. Twice the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society has been his—first, for his discovery of an inequality of long period in the movements of Venus and the earth; secondly, in return for his reduction of the planetary observations. He has been enrolled among the most honored members of the Royal Astronomical Society, of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, and of the Institute of Civil Engineers. For many years he has been among the foreign correspondents to the Institute of France, as well as of several other scientific academies on the Continent. On May 17, 1872, Sir George was gazetted a Knight of the Bath.

For his successful optical theories he has… the Copley Gold Medal of the Royal Society. The Royal Gold Medal of the same society has been given to him in recompense for his tidal investigations. Twice the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society has been his—first, for his discovery of an inequality of long period […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020

The writings of the Astronomer Royal are numerous. He has contributed largely to the Cambridge Transactions and the Philosophical Transactions. His pen has notably illustrated the memoirs of the Astronomical Society. He has written abundantly for the Philosophical Magazine, and still more abundantly, under his reversed initials, A. B. G., in the columns of the Athenœum. His principle works, however, are…: “Gravitation,” published in 1837, was written originally for the “Penny Cyclopædia.” “Mathematical Tracts” have reached a fourth edition, as have also his “Ipswich Lectures on Astronomy.” In 1861 appeared his treatise on “Errors of Observation;” in 1869 his treatise on “Sound,” and in 1870 his treatise on “Magnetism.” Sir George Airy’s well-known work on “Trigonometry” was published in 1855. Another work of his, entitled “Figure of the Earth,” has yet to be named, as well as the luminous paper on “Tides and Waves,” contributed by him, first of all, to the “Encyclopædia Metropolitana.” Even while simply Professor of Astronomy at Cambridge his “Astronomical Observations,” issuing… between 1829 and 1838, extended in nine quarto volumes, and were adopted at once as models for that class of publication.

The writings of the Astronomer Royal are numerous. He has contributed largely to the Cambridge Transactions and the Philosophical Transactions. His pen has notably illustrated the memoirs of the Astronomical Society. He has written abundantly for the Philosophical Magazine, and still more abundantly, under his reversed initials, A. B. G., in the columns of the […]

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by Suhel Ahmad | Last Updated on June 15, 2020 | Created on June 15, 2020