Stephen Joseph Perry
Encyclopedia
Stephen Joseph Perry was an English Jesuit, known as a participant in scientific expeditions.
, and then at Beaumont Lodge, after which he pursued his studies at St. Acheul, near Amiens
, and at Stonyhurst College
. In consequence of his marked bent for mathematics, he was sent to attend the lectures of Augustus De Morgan
, in London, and those of Bertrand
, Liouville, Delaunay
, Cauchy, and Serret, in Paris. In the autumn of 1860 he was recalled to Stonyhurst to teach physics and mathematics, likewise taking charge of the observatory.
In 1863 he commenced his theological studies at St. Beuno's, N. Wales, and was ordained in 1866. He resumed his former duties at Stonyhurst, which during the rest of his life were uninterrupted, save by special scientific engagements.
; at Carriacou (West Indies) in 1886; in Moscow
in 1887; and at the Îles du Salut
in 1889, on which journey he died.
In 1874 he headed a party similarly sent to Kerguelen in the South Indian Ocean, to observe a transit of Venus
, when he also took a series of observations to determine the absolute longitude of the place, and others for the magnetic elements, not only at Kerguelen itself, but, on his way to and fro, at the Cape, Bombay, Aden, Port Said, Malta, Palermo, Rome, Naples, Florence, and Moncalieri. He likewise drew up a Blue-book on the climate of "The Isle of Desolation", as Kerguelen was called by Captain Cook.
In 1882 he went again with Sidgreaves, to observe a similar transit in Madagascar
, and he again took advantage of the occasion for magnetic purposes. In 1874 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
At Stonyhurst
, while he greatly developed the meteorological work of the observatory
, and in the province of astronomy made frequent observations of Jupiter's satellites, of stellar occultations, of comet
s, and of meteorite
s, it was in the department of solar physics that he specially laboured, particular attention being paid to sun spot
s and faculae. For observation in illustration of these an ingenious method was devised and patiently pursued.
Father Perry was much in request as a lecturer. He died on an eclipse expedition. The observation on this occasion was successful, and Father Perry, though already ill, managed to perform his part without interruption. As soon as it was over, however, he became alarmingly worse, and having gotten on board , which had been detained for the service, he died at sea five days later, 27 December 1889. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Georgetown, Demerara.
Life
He belonged to a well-known Catholic family. His schooling was first at Gifford Hall, and then at the Benedictine College, Douai, where he proceeded to Rome to study for the priesthood. Having resolved to enter the Society of Jesus, he entered the novitiate (1853-5) first at HodderHodder
-People:*Christopher Hodder-Williams, British writer*Harvey Hodder, Canadian politician*Ian Hodder, British archaeologist*Jackie Hodder, Australian gangster*Jim Hodder , American musician*Kane Hodder, American actor and stuntman...
, and then at Beaumont Lodge, after which he pursued his studies at St. Acheul, near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, and at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
. In consequence of his marked bent for mathematics, he was sent to attend the lectures of Augustus De Morgan
Augustus De Morgan
Augustus De Morgan was a British mathematician and logician. He formulated De Morgan's laws and introduced the term mathematical induction, making its idea rigorous. The crater De Morgan on the Moon is named after him....
, in London, and those of Bertrand
Bertrand
- People :* Bertrand , a Germanic name and surname including a list of people with the name- Fictional characters :* Bertrand Baudelaire, a fictional character in A Series of Unfortunate Events...
, Liouville, Delaunay
Delaunay
-Arts:* Catherine Delaunay , French jazz clarinet player and composer* Charles Delaunay , French author and jazz expert* Elie Delaunay , French painter* Louis Arsene Delaunay , French actor...
, Cauchy, and Serret, in Paris. In the autumn of 1860 he was recalled to Stonyhurst to teach physics and mathematics, likewise taking charge of the observatory.
In 1863 he commenced his theological studies at St. Beuno's, N. Wales, and was ordained in 1866. He resumed his former duties at Stonyhurst, which during the rest of his life were uninterrupted, save by special scientific engagements.
Scientific work
In company with Father Walter Sidgreaves, he made magnetic surveys, in 1868, of Western, in 1869 of Eastern, France, and in 1871 of Belgium. In 1870 he went in charge of a government expedition to observe a solar eclipse at CadizCádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
; at Carriacou (West Indies) in 1886; in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1887; and at the Îles du Salut
Îles du Salut
The Îles du Salut are a group of small islands of volcanic origin about 11 km off the coast of French Guiana in the Atlantic Ocean...
in 1889, on which journey he died.
In 1874 he headed a party similarly sent to Kerguelen in the South Indian Ocean, to observe a transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
, when he also took a series of observations to determine the absolute longitude of the place, and others for the magnetic elements, not only at Kerguelen itself, but, on his way to and fro, at the Cape, Bombay, Aden, Port Said, Malta, Palermo, Rome, Naples, Florence, and Moncalieri. He likewise drew up a Blue-book on the climate of "The Isle of Desolation", as Kerguelen was called by Captain Cook.
In 1882 he went again with Sidgreaves, to observe a similar transit in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, and he again took advantage of the occasion for magnetic purposes. In 1874 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
At Stonyhurst
Stonyhurst
Stonyhurst is the name of a rural estate owned by the Society of Jesus near Clitheroe in Lancashire, England. It is dominated by Stonyhurst College, its preparatory school Stonyhurst Saint Mary's Hall and the parish Church of St Peter's.-The Estate:...
, while he greatly developed the meteorological work of the observatory
Stonyhurst Observatory
The Stonyhurst Observatory is a functioning observatory and weather station at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England. Built in 1866, it replaced a nearby earlier building, built in 1838, which is now used as the Typographia Collegii....
, and in the province of astronomy made frequent observations of Jupiter's satellites, of stellar occultations, of comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s, and of meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
s, it was in the department of solar physics that he specially laboured, particular attention being paid to sun spot
Sun SPOT
Sun SPOT is a wireless sensor network mote developed by Sun Microsystems. The device is built upon the IEEE 802.15.4 standard...
s and faculae. For observation in illustration of these an ingenious method was devised and patiently pursued.
Father Perry was much in request as a lecturer. He died on an eclipse expedition. The observation on this occasion was successful, and Father Perry, though already ill, managed to perform his part without interruption. As soon as it was over, however, he became alarmingly worse, and having gotten on board , which had been detained for the service, he died at sea five days later, 27 December 1889. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Georgetown, Demerara.