John Wrottesley
John Wrottesley, second Baron Wrottesley (1798–1867), landowner and astronomer
1823 called to the Bar
Wrottesley joined the committee of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
Between 1829 and 1831 he built and fitted up an astronomical observatory at his home in Blackheath.
Assisted by John Hartnup, he concentrated on observing the positions of certain fixed stars of the sixth and seventh magnitudes.
Wrottesley was a founder member of the Royal Astronomical Society; served as its secretary from 1831 to 1841, and its president from 1841 to 1843.
1841 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
1841 Wrottesley erected an observatory at Wrottesley Hall and provided it with a fine equatorial telescope of 129 inches focal length by Dollond, with a 7¾ inch lens.
1854 Wrottesley succeeded William Parsons as president of the Royal Society, a post which he resigned in 1857.
1860 he was elected president of the British Association
1867 Died at Wrottesley Hall.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of John Wrottesley, ODNB