William Brydone Jack
Encyclopedia
William Brydone-Jack, was the University of New Brunswick
's first surveying professor and its second president (1861-1885). He was educated at the University of St Andrews
, Scotland
. In 1840, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at what was then King's College (founded in 1785) and gave lectures in surveying as part of the mathematics curriculum. William Brydone-Jack also designed and built a small wooden observatory
which became operational in 1851.
On the building, there is a plaque, and the plaque reads as follows:
In 1855, William Brydone Jack, together with Dr. J.B. Toldervy, determined the longitude of Fredericton using the exchange of telegraph signals with Harvard College Observatory. This was the first precisely determined longitude in Canada.
In the same year that UNB was created (1859), a special three-term undergraduate course in civil engineering
and surveying
was initiated. The first diploma in this special course was awarded to Henry George Clopper Ketchum in June 1862. William Brydone Jack was appointed to the Board of Examiners in 1874 for the examination of candidates for admission to practice land surveying in New Brunswick
.
Jack Kennedy, sometime professor of physics at UNB, wrote extensively on William Brydone Jack's accomplishments in astronomy and land surveying including his efforts to build the observatory and the determination of longitude by electric telegraph.
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
's first surveying professor and its second president (1861-1885). He was educated at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In 1840, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at what was then King's College (founded in 1785) and gave lectures in surveying as part of the mathematics curriculum. William Brydone-Jack also designed and built a small wooden observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
which became operational in 1851.
On the building, there is a plaque, and the plaque reads as follows:
- First Astronomical Observatory in Canada
- Built in 1851 at the instigation of William Brydone Jack, professor of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy; President of the University of New Brunswick, 1861-85. Schooled in the traditions of the Scottish universities, he equipped the observatory with the best instruments of the day. In collaboration with Harvard observatory he determined the longitude of Fredericton and other places in New Brunswick and corrected errors in the international boundary.
In 1855, William Brydone Jack, together with Dr. J.B. Toldervy, determined the longitude of Fredericton using the exchange of telegraph signals with Harvard College Observatory. This was the first precisely determined longitude in Canada.
In the same year that UNB was created (1859), a special three-term undergraduate course in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
was initiated. The first diploma in this special course was awarded to Henry George Clopper Ketchum in June 1862. William Brydone Jack was appointed to the Board of Examiners in 1874 for the examination of candidates for admission to practice land surveying in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
Jack Kennedy, sometime professor of physics at UNB, wrote extensively on William Brydone Jack's accomplishments in astronomy and land surveying including his efforts to build the observatory and the determination of longitude by electric telegraph.