George Biddell Airy

Sir George Biddell Airy (July 27, 1801–January 2, 1892) was British Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881.

Early years

In 1819 he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, as a sizar, meaning that he paid a reduced fee but essentially worked as a servant to make good the fee reduction.

Related Topics:
1819 - Trinity College, Cambridge - Sizar

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Here he had a brilliant career, and seems to have been almost immediately recognized as the leading man of his year.

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In 1822 he was elected scholar of Trinity, and in the following year he graduated as senior wrangler and obtained first Smith's prize.

Related Topics:
1822 - Senior wrangler - Smith's prize

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On October 1 1824 he was elected fellow of Trinity, and in December 1826 was appointed Lucasian professor of mathematics in succession to Thomas Turton.

Related Topics:
October 1 - 1824 - 1826 - Lucasian professor - Mathematics - Thomas Turton

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This chair he held for little more than a year, being elected in February 1828 Plumian professor of astronomy and director of the new Cambridge observatory.

Related Topics:
1828 - Plumian professor - Astronomy - Observatory

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Some idea of his activity as a writer on mathematical and physical subjects during these early years may be gathered from the fact that previous to this appointment he had contributed no less than three important memoirs to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and eight to the Cambridge Philosophical Society. At the Cambridge observatory Airy soon showed his power of organization.

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The only telescope in the establishment when he took charge was the transit instrument, and to this he vigorously devoted himself. By the adoption of a regular system of work, and a careful plan of reduction, he was able to keep his observations up to date, and published them annually with a punctuality which astonished his contemporaries.

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Before long a mural circle was installed, and regular observations were instituted with it in 1833.

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In the same year the Duke of Northumberland presented the Cambridge observatory with a fine object-glass of 12 in. aperture, which was mounted according to Airy's designs and under his superintendence, although construction was not completed until after he moved to Greenwich in 1835.

Related Topics:
Duke of Northumberland - Greenwich - 1835

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Airy's writings during this time are divided between mathematical physics and astronomy.

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The former are for the most part concerned with questions relating to the theory of light arising out of his professorial lectures, among which may be specially mentioned his paper "On the Diffraction of an Object-Glass with Circular Aperture," and his enunciation of the complete theory of the rainbow. In 1831 the Copley Medal of the Royal Society was awarded to him for these researches. Of his astronomical writings during this period the most important are his investigation of the mass of Jupiter, his report to the British Association on the progress of astronomy during the 19th century, and his work On an Inequality of Long Period in the Motions of the Earth and Venus.

Related Topics:
Rainbow - Copley Medal - Royal Society - Jupiter - 19th century

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One of the sections of his able and instructive report was devoted to "A Comparison of the Progress of Astronomy in England with that in other Countries," very much to the disadvantage of England.

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This reproach was subsequently to a great extent removed by his own labours.

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