Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry
Encyclopedia
The Lowndean chair of Astronomy and Geometry is one of the two major Professorships in Astronomy
at Cambridge University
, alongside the Plumian Professorship
. It was founded in 1749 by Thomas Lowndes
, an astronomer
from Overton
in Cheshire
.
The original bequest stated that the holder must give two courses of twenty lectures each year, one in astronomy, and the other in geometry
, and spend at least six weeks making astronomical observations.
Originally the holder was elected by a committee consisting of the Lord Chancellor
, the Lord President of the Privy Council, the Lord Privy Seal
, the Lord Steward of the Household, and the Lord High Treasurer of the First Lord of the Treasury
.
By the 20th century, the electors had changed to comprise the most senior scientists in the United Kingdom: the President of the Royal Society, the President of the Royal Astronomical Society
, the Astronomer Royal
, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
, and the Lucasian, Sadleirian, and Plumian
Professors.
Notwithstanding the title, a professor can be chosen who specializes solely or chiefly in only one, rather than both, of the subjects of astronomy and geometry.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, alongside the Plumian Professorship
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy
The Plumian chair of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy is one of the two major Professorships in Astronomy at Cambridge University, alongside the Lowndean Professorship. The chair is currently held at the Institute of Astronomy in the University...
. It was founded in 1749 by Thomas Lowndes
Thomas Lowndes (astronomer)
Thomas Lowndes was the founder of the Lowndean professorship of astronomy at Cambridge University, England.Both his father and mother were Cheshire landowners. In 1725 he was appointed provost marshal of South Carolina, a post he preferred to hold by deputy...
, an astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
from Overton
Overton, Cheshire
Overton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 68. It is the site of a deserted village, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the sole remains of which are earthworks....
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
The original bequest stated that the holder must give two courses of twenty lectures each year, one in astronomy, and the other in geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, and spend at least six weeks making astronomical observations.
Originally the holder was elected by a committee consisting of the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, the Lord President of the Privy Council, the Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
, the Lord Steward of the Household, and the Lord High Treasurer of the First Lord of the Treasury
First Lord of the Treasury
The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, and is now always also the Prime Minister...
.
By the 20th century, the electors had changed to comprise the most senior scientists in the United Kingdom: the President of the Royal Society, the President of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
, the Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and the Lucasian, Sadleirian, and Plumian
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy
The Plumian chair of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy is one of the two major Professorships in Astronomy at Cambridge University, alongside the Lowndean Professorship. The chair is currently held at the Institute of Astronomy in the University...
Professors.
Notwithstanding the title, a professor can be chosen who specializes solely or chiefly in only one, rather than both, of the subjects of astronomy and geometry.
Lowndean Professors
- 1750–1771 Roger LongRoger Longthumb|150px|Roger LongRoger Long was an English astronomer, and Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge between 1733 and 1770....
- 1771–1795 John SmithJohn Smith (astronomer)John Smith was a British academic and astronomer.His father was an attorney named Henry Smith and his mother was Elizabeth Johnson. He was born in Coltishall, Norfolk and was educated at Norwich Grammar School and at Eton.He was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge University in 1732. He...
- 1795–1837 William LaxWilliam LaxWilliam Lax AM FRS was an English astronomer and mathematician.Lax was born in Ravensworth, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, the son of William and Helen Lax. He was educated at the local grammar school at Kirby Hill. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge University in 1780 at the age of 19 as...
- 1837–1859 George PeacockGeorge PeacockGeorge Peacock was an English mathematician.-Life:Peacock was born on 9 April 1791 at Thornton Hall, Denton, near Darlington, County Durham. His father, the Rev. Thomas Peacock, was a clergyman of the Church of England, incumbent and for 50 years curate of the parish of Denton, where he also kept...
- 1859–1892 John Couch AdamsJohn Couch AdamsJohn Couch Adams was a British mathematician and astronomer. Adams was born in Laneast, near Launceston, Cornwall, and died in Cambridge. The Cornish name Couch is pronounced "cooch"....
- 1892–1913 Robert Stawell BallRobert Stawell BallSir Robert Stawell Ball was an Irish astronomer. He worked for Lord Rosse from 1865 to 1867. In 1867 he became Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Royal College of Science in Dublin. In 1874 Ball was appointed Royal Astronomer of Ireland and Andrews Professor of Astronomy in the University...
- 1914–1936 H. F. BakerH. F. BakerHenry Frederick Baker was a British mathematician, working mainly in algebraic geometry, but also remembered for contributions to partial differential equations , and Lie groups....
- 1936–1970 W. V. D. HodgeW. V. D. HodgeWilliam Vallance Douglas Hodge FRS was a Scottish mathematician, specifically a geometer.His discovery of far-reaching topological relations between algebraic geometry and differential geometry—an area now called Hodge theory and pertaining more generally to Kähler manifolds—has been a major...
- 1970–1989 J. Frank AdamsFrank AdamsJohn Frank Adams FRS was a British mathematician, one of the founders of homotopy theory.-Life:He was born in Woolwich, a suburb in south-east London. He began research as a student of Abram Besicovitch, but soon switched to algebraic topology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of...
- 1990–1999 Graeme SegalGraeme SegalGraeme Bryce Segal is a British mathematician, and professor at the University of Oxford.Segal was educated at the University of Sydney, where he received his BSc degree in 1961. He went on to receive his D.Phil...
- 2000–present Burt TotaroBurt TotaroBurt Totaro, FRS, is an American mathematician, educated at Princeton and Berkeley. In 2000, he was elected Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry at the University of Cambridge. In the same year, he was awarded the Whitehead Prize by the London Mathematical Society.In 2009, he was elected...