| Reference number | MS/426/278 |
| Alternative reference number | MS/426 p89 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy of the Memorial from Joseph H [Henry] Kay, Lieut R N, Director of the Magnetic Observatory; to the President of the Royal Society |
| Date | 30 November 1846 |
| Description | This letter was forwarded to Lord Auckland [George Eden] for consideration. [See MS/426/277]. Explains that in September 1840, Joseph Henry Kay, being an Officer of the Antarctic Expedition was ordered by Sir James Ross, FRS, to establish a magnetic observatory on Van Diemen's Island [Now called Tasmania in Australia]. With a team consisting if only himself and two assistants, took to making measurements on a hourly basis, day and night. This system has since been adopted by other observatories although the original instructions from the Royal Society for only two hourly observations. States that Kay left England on the HMS Erebus and Jesson in 1839 and has served for up to 7.5 years, and has no intention of ruining the character of the Navy. List 13 individuals who will testify to having witnessed his work, including Sir John Herschel and [Edaward] Sabine. His duties on the island have thus thrown him out of a direct line for his profession and fears the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty no longer see him in favourable terms. As the loss of personal career progression cannot be compensated, asks for the President and the Council, although with the Admiralty to obtain for him the rank of Commander. |
| Extent | 2p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Access status | Open |
| Related records in the catalogue | MS/426/277 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA4898 | Kay; Joseph Henry (1814 - 1875) | 1814 - 1875 |
| NA7948 | Ross; Sir; James Clark (1800 - 1862) | 1800 - 1862 |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |
| NA8238 | Herschel; Sir; John Frederick William (1792 - 1871); astronomer | 1792 - 1871 |