| RefNo | MS/603/11/66 |
| Previous numbers | 2009 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from H H [Herbert Hall] Turner, University Observatory, Oxford, to [Joseph] Larmor |
| Creator | Turner; Herbert Hall (1861-1930); British astronomer and seismologist |
| Recipient | Larmor; Sir Joseph (1857-1942); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Date | 11 March 1909 |
| Description | Turner explains that he kept in touch with his own party over [Edward Walter] Maunder's candidature [for election to the Royal Society], with [David] Gill making enquiries among astronomers, and finding a general feeling of goodwill towards him. After the election, Gill wrote to say that [George Howard] Darwin had done all he could, but to no avail. He gives an account of the Council meeting, where it became apparent they could do more for [Alfred] Fowler, but they had stuck with Maunder. They were outvoted by physicists and mathematicians and the matter was raised of Maunder doing little with the Greenwich spectroscope. Gill knew that this was the fault of [William Henry Mahoney] Christie's instrument, but did not like to say so within the meeting; had it been raised beforehand, he could have settled the difficulty. Turner agrees with Council that they had the best advice available, but thinks that Coucnul did not act upon it. They set aside the advice of two eminent astronomers in favour of those who knew little of observational work. Taking account also of his own experiences, he will not withdraw the expression 'a touch of arrogance'. |
| Extent | 2p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA1105 | Turner; Herbert Hall (1861 - 1930); astronomer and seismologist | 1861 - 1930 |