Regius Professor of Astronomy, Glasgow
Encyclopedia
The Regius Chair of Astronomy is a Regius Professor
ship in the University of Glasgow
.
Founded in 1760 with the title Practical Astronomy (and with the office of Observer in the University) the title was changed in 1893.
rotated around its centre (which was later found to be true for galaxies but not the universe), and discovered that sunspots viewed near the edge of the Sun's visible disk appear depressed below the solar surface, a phenomenon still referred to as the Wilson effect
. The Professor was not at this time required to teach. Wilson employed his second son, Patrick, as his assistant and intended successor in 1782, with the approval of the University but not of the Crown. The Crown relented in 1784 and Patrick was appointed to the Chair.
William Meikleham was then appointed to the Chair in 1799, but resigned it in 1803 to become Professor of Natural Philosophy
. He was succeeded by John Couper, previously Minister of Baldernock
, who was succeeded in 1836 by John Nichol
. Nichol led the Astronomical Institute of Glasgow in its initiative to erect an observatory on Horslethill in 1841, which later fell into difficulties due to Nichol's poor accounting. The observatory was taken over by the University in 1845. Nichol was noted for delivering inspiring lectures both to students and the general public, and also lectured for two years on Natural Philosophy when the Professor, William Meikleham, (his predecessor in the Astronomy Chair) was unwell, and when his students included the young Lord Kelvin
.
Nichol died in 1859 and was succeeded by Robert Grant, who in 1883 published a Catalogue of 6,415 Stars for the Epoch 1870. Grant died in 1892 and was succeeded by Ludwig Becker, a German scientist originally from Bonn
, who had moved to Scotland in 1885 as director of the observatory at Dunecht
in Aberdeenshire
. Becker was popular with students and was thought at the time to have the best-attended astronomy classes in Britain. He retired in 1935.
In 1937, William Smart was appointed to the Chair, having previously been John Couch Adams Astronomer at the University of Cambridge
. He wrote over twenty books and was President of the Royal Astronomical Society
from 1949 to 1951. He retired in 1959 and was succeeded by Peter Sweet, formerly Assistant Director of the University of London Observatory
. Sweet oversaw expansion of the Astronomy Department and construction of a new Observatory on the University's Garscube site.
Upon Sweet's retirement in 1982, the Department of Astronomy was merged into the Department of Natural Philosophy, and John Campbell Brown
was appointed to a new Chair of Astrophysics while the Regius Chair remained vacant. Brown was appointed Astronomer Royal for Scotland
in 1995, and in 1996 was appointed to the revived Regius Chair of Astronomy. In 2010, the University is marking the Chair's 250th anniversary with a week of public lectures and an exhibition on inaugural holder Alexander Wilson in the Hunterian Museum
.
Regius Professor
Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships at the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland - namely Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin. Each of the chairs was created by a monarch, and each appointment, save those at Dublin, is approved by the...
ship in the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Founded in 1760 with the title Practical Astronomy (and with the office of Observer in the University) the title was changed in 1893.
History
The first holder of the Chair was famed Scottish astronomer Alexander Wilson, who put forward the theory that the entire universeUniverse
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
rotated around its centre (which was later found to be true for galaxies but not the universe), and discovered that sunspots viewed near the edge of the Sun's visible disk appear depressed below the solar surface, a phenomenon still referred to as the Wilson effect
Wilson effect
In 1769 a Scottish astronomer named Alexander Wilson, working at the Macfarlane Observatory, noticed that the shape of sunspots noticeably flattened as they approached the Sun's limb due to the solar rotation. These observations showed that sunspots were features on the solar surface, as opposed to...
. The Professor was not at this time required to teach. Wilson employed his second son, Patrick, as his assistant and intended successor in 1782, with the approval of the University but not of the Crown. The Crown relented in 1784 and Patrick was appointed to the Chair.
William Meikleham was then appointed to the Chair in 1799, but resigned it in 1803 to become Professor of Natural Philosophy
Professor of Natural Philosophy, Glasgow
The Chair of Natural Philosophy is a professorship at the University of Glasgow which was established in 1727The Nova Erectio of King James VI of Scotland shared the teaching of Moral Philosophy, Logic and Natural Philosophy among the Regents....
. He was succeeded by John Couper, previously Minister of Baldernock
Baldernock
Baldernock is a small parish in East Dunbartonshire , Scotland, ten miles to the north of Glasgow's city centre.-Geography:...
, who was succeeded in 1836 by John Nichol
John Pringle Nichol
John Pringle Nichol FRSE was a Scottish educator, astronomer and economist who did much to popularise astronomy in a manner that appealed to nineteenth century tastes.-Early life:...
. Nichol led the Astronomical Institute of Glasgow in its initiative to erect an observatory on Horslethill in 1841, which later fell into difficulties due to Nichol's poor accounting. The observatory was taken over by the University in 1845. Nichol was noted for delivering inspiring lectures both to students and the general public, and also lectured for two years on Natural Philosophy when the Professor, William Meikleham, (his predecessor in the Astronomy Chair) was unwell, and when his students included the young Lord Kelvin
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin OM, GCVO, PC, PRS, PRSE, was a mathematical physicist and engineer. At the University of Glasgow he did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging...
.
Nichol died in 1859 and was succeeded by Robert Grant, who in 1883 published a Catalogue of 6,415 Stars for the Epoch 1870. Grant died in 1892 and was succeeded by Ludwig Becker, a German scientist originally from Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, who had moved to Scotland in 1885 as director of the observatory at Dunecht
Dunecht
Dunecht is a slightly linear village on the A944 road in north-east Aberdeenshire in Scotland. It is not to be confused with Echt.Dunecht is located 12 miles west of the city of Aberdeen and is situated by the confluence of the Kinnernie and Bervie burns.Formerly known as Waterton, it was renamed...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. Becker was popular with students and was thought at the time to have the best-attended astronomy classes in Britain. He retired in 1935.
In 1937, William Smart was appointed to the Chair, having previously been John Couch Adams Astronomer at 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...
. He wrote over twenty books and was 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...
from 1949 to 1951. He retired in 1959 and was succeeded by Peter Sweet, formerly Assistant Director of the University of London Observatory
University of London Observatory
The University of London Observatory at Mill Hill in London is an astronomical teaching observatory, part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London....
. Sweet oversaw expansion of the Astronomy Department and construction of a new Observatory on the University's Garscube site.
Upon Sweet's retirement in 1982, the Department of Astronomy was merged into the Department of Natural Philosophy, and John Campbell Brown
John Campbell Brown
John Campbell Brown FRSE is an astronomer, Regius Professor at University of Glasgow, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, and is an honorary professor at both University of Edinburgh and University of Aberdeen....
was appointed to a new Chair of Astrophysics while the Regius Chair remained vacant. Brown was appointed Astronomer Royal for Scotland
Astronomer Royal for Scotland
Astronomer Royal for Scotland was the title of the director of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh until 1995. It has since been an honorary title.The following have served as Astronomers Royal for Scotland:* 1834–1844 Thomas Henderson...
in 1995, and in 1996 was appointed to the revived Regius Chair of Astronomy. In 2010, the University is marking the Chair's 250th anniversary with a week of public lectures and an exhibition on inaugural holder Alexander Wilson in the Hunterian Museum
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
The University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest public museum in Scotland. It is located in various buildings on the main campus of the University in the west end of Glasgow.-History:...
.
Regius Professors of Astronomy
- Alexander Wilson (1760)
- Patrick Wilson (1784)
- William Meikleham (1799)
- James Couper (1803)
- John NicholJohn Pringle NicholJohn Pringle Nichol FRSE was a Scottish educator, astronomer and economist who did much to popularise astronomy in a manner that appealed to nineteenth century tastes.-Early life:...
(1836) - Robert Grant (1859)
- Ludwig Becker (1893)
- William Marshall SmartWilliam Marshall SmartWilliam Marshall Smart was a Scottish astronomer.He was born in Doune to Peter Fernie Smart and Isabella Marshall Harrower. He was educated at the McLaren High School, in Callander, and graduated MA fom Glasgow University in 1910 in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy...
(1937) - Peter Allan Sweet (1959)
- John Campbell BrownJohn Campbell BrownJohn Campbell Brown FRSE is an astronomer, Regius Professor at University of Glasgow, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, and is an honorary professor at both University of Edinburgh and University of Aberdeen....
(1996) Astronomer Royal for ScotlandAstronomer Royal for ScotlandAstronomer Royal for Scotland was the title of the director of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh until 1995. It has since been an honorary title.The following have served as Astronomers Royal for Scotland:* 1834–1844 Thomas Henderson...