Thomas Brisbane
Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane (1773–1860), colonial governor and astronomer
1773 born at Brisbane House, Largs, Ayrshire
Educated at home, then at the University of Edinburgh, after which he and his brother boarded at the technical school of Robert Thomson in Kensington.
1798 on the way back from Jamaica his ship was nearly shipwrecked due to the captain's miscalculation leading Brisbane to improve his understanding of navigation
1808 he built Brisbane Observatory, a stone structure some distance from Brisbane House in Largs. It had three clocks, several instruments by Troughton, including his 2 foot mural circle, the first of its kind, and which served as the model for the 6 foot circle installed at Greenwich Observatory. Brisbane rose daily at first light to make observations
1820 After an extensive military career, on the Duke of Wellington's advice, Brisbane was appointed Governor of New South Wales and the dependent territory of Van Diemen's Land.
1826 returned to Britain as colonel of the 34th foot
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography ODNB