Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy
Encyclopedia
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. The Plumian chair was founded in 1704 by Thomas Plume
, a member of Christ's
and Archdeacon of Rochester, to "erect an Observatory and to maintain a studious and learned Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, and to buy him and his successors utensils and instruments quadrants telescopes etc."
The first Professorship was awarded in 1707 to Roger Cotes
, a former student of Isaac Newton
, and the stipend
was increased in 1768 by Dr Robert Smith, the second Plumian Professor.
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 Lowndean Professorship
Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry
The Lowndean chair of Astronomy and Geometry is one of the two major Professorships in Astronomy at Cambridge University, alongside the Plumian Professorship...
. The chair is currently held at the Institute of Astronomy
Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge
The Institute of Astronomy is the largest of the three astronomy departments in the University of Cambridge, and one of the largest astronomy sites in the UK...
in the University. The Plumian chair was founded in 1704 by Thomas Plume
Thomas Plume
The Reverend Doctor Thomas Plume, B.A., D.D. was an English churchman and philanthropist, founder of a school which still stands today, the Plume School, in Maldon, Essex.-Family life:...
, a member of Christ's
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
and Archdeacon of Rochester, to "erect an Observatory and to maintain a studious and learned Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, and to buy him and his successors utensils and instruments quadrants telescopes etc."
The first Professorship was awarded in 1707 to Roger Cotes
Roger Cotes
Roger Cotes FRS was an English mathematician, known for working closely with Isaac Newton by proofreading the second edition of his famous book, the Principia, before publication. He also invented the quadrature formulas known as Newton–Cotes formulas and first introduced what is known today as...
, a former student of Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
, and the stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
was increased in 1768 by Dr Robert Smith, the second Plumian Professor.
Plumian Professors
- Roger CotesRoger CotesRoger Cotes FRS was an English mathematician, known for working closely with Isaac Newton by proofreading the second edition of his famous book, the Principia, before publication. He also invented the quadrature formulas known as Newton–Cotes formulas and first introduced what is known today as...
(1707–1716) - Robert SmithRobert Smith (mathematician)Robert Smith was an English mathematician and music theorist.-Life:Smith was probably born at Lea near Gainsborough, the son of the rector of Gate Burton, Lincolnshire...
(1716–1760) - Anthony ShepherdAnthony ShepherdAnthony Shepherd was a British astronomer. He was the Plumian Professor at the University of Cambridge between 1760 and 1796. He published astronomical tables, and was a friend of Captain Cook, who named the Shepherd Islands after him....
(1760–1796) - Samuel VinceSamuel VinceSamuel Vince was an English clergyman, mathematician and astronomer at the University of Cambridge.The son of a plasterer, Vince was admitted as a sizar to Caius College, Cambridge in 1771. In 1775 he was Senior Wrangler at Cambridge. Migrating to Sidney Sussex College in 1777, he gained his M.A....
(1796–1821) - Robert WoodhouseRobert WoodhouseRobert Woodhouse was an English mathematician.-Biography:He was born at Norwich, the son of Robert Woodhouse, linen draper, and educated at Caius College, Cambridge, of which society he was subsequently a fellow...
(1822–1828) - George Airy (1828–1836)
- James ChallisJames ChallisJames Challis FRS was an English clergyman, physicist and astronomer. Plumian Professor and director of the Cambridge Observatory, he investigated a wide range of physical phenomena though made few lasting contributions outside astronomy...
(1836–1883) - George Darwin (1883–1912)
- Arthur Eddington (1913–1944)
- Harold JeffreysHarold JeffreysSir Harold Jeffreys, FRS was a mathematician, statistician, geophysicist, and astronomer. His seminal book Theory of Probability, which first appeared in 1939, played an important role in the revival of the Bayesian view of probability.-Biography:Jeffreys was born in Fatfield, Washington, County...
(1946–1958) - Fred HoyleFred HoyleSir Fred Hoyle FRS was an English astronomer and mathematician noted primarily for his contribution to the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis and his often controversial stance on other cosmological and scientific matters—in particular his rejection of the "Big Bang" theory, a term originally...
(1958–1972) - Martin Rees (1973–1991)
- Richard EllisRichard Ellis (astronomer)Richard Salisbury Ellis CBE FRS is the Steele Professor of Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology ....
(1993–2000) - Jeremiah Ostriker (2001–2003)
- Robert KennicuttRobert KennicuttRobert Charles Kennicutt, Jr. FRS is an American astronomer. He is the Plumian Professor of Astronomy at the Institute of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge. He was formerly Editor-in-Chief of the Astrophysical Journal...
(2005–)