Homepage

Record

Authorised form of nameMiddleton; Christopher (- 1770); navigator
Dates - 1770
Date of death12 February 1770
OccupationNavigator
Research fieldNavigation
Magnetism
ActivityCareer:
Privateer in Queen Anne's war (c.1701-1713); Hudson's Bay Company, second mate on the 'Hannah'(1721), captain 1725; made 16 annual voyages supplying Hudson Bay Company outposts making observations en route including compass deviations close to the magnetic north pole; appointed Royal Navy Officer with command of HMS 'Furnace' (1741) which sailed in search of a northwest passage discovering Wager Inlet and Repulse Bay; commanded HMS 'Shark' (17450-1748) during the Spanish war; remained in the Navy on half pay until his death in 1770
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election07/04/1737
Royal Society activityMedals and prizes:
Copley Medal 1742
SourcesSources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB
References:
T E Allibone, 'The Diaries of John Byrom, MA, FRS, and their Relation to the Pre-history of the Royal Society Club' in NR 1965 vol 20 pp 162-183
Royal Society codeNA5183
Archives associated with this Fellow
Reference numberTitleDate
RBO/21/42'An Examination of Sea Water frozen and melted again, to try what quantity of Salt is contain'd in Such Ice, made in Hudson's Streights by Captain Christopher Middleton'1738
EC/1737/01Middleton, Christopher: certificate of election to the Royal Society7 April 1737
RBO/21/61'The Use of a new Azimuth Compass for finding the Variation of the Compass or Magnetic Needle at Sea ...' by Captain Christopher Middleton1739
RBO/21/22'Observations of the Lunar Eclipse of September 8 1736 at Hudson's Bay; and of an uncommon Effect of Cold on the Magnetical Needle in a Voyage thither' by Captain Christopher Middleton1738
RBO/19/70'Observations made of the Latitude, variation of the magnetic Needle and weather by Captain Christopher Middleton in a voyage from London to Hudson's Bay Anno 1735'nd
L&P/13/8Paper, 'Observations made of the latitude, variation of the magnetic needle and weather in a voyage from London to Hudson's Bay, 1735' by Christopher Middleton1736
CLP/9ii/32Paper, 'Of the magnetic needle affeced by cold' by Christopher Middleton20 April 1738
CLP/9ii/23Paper, 'A new and exact table collected from severall observations taken in four voyages to Hudsons Bay in North America from London shewing the variation of the magnetical needle or sea compass in the pathway to the said bay according to the severall lattitudes and longitudes from the years 1721 to 1725' by Christ [Christopher] Middleton[1727]
CLP/9ii/24Paper, 'Observations on the weather in a voyage to Hudson Bay in North America in 1730' by Christ [Christopher] Middleton[1731]
L&P/1/121Letter, 'Observations on board HMS Furnace, Churchill River, Hudson's Bay, and at Prince of Wales Fort, Churchill River, in 1741 and 1742' from Christopher Middleton to Hans Sloane1742
CLP/8ii/71Paper, 'An observation of the eclipse of the Moon September 8 1736 made in Hudson's Bay [Canada]' by Christopher Middleton1738
CLP/9ii/22Paper, 'A new and exact table collected from severall observations taken from the year 1721 to 1729 in 9 voyages to Hudson Bay North America by Capt C Middleton shewing the variation of the compass according to the lattitudes and longitudes under mentioned accounting the longitude from the meridian of London' by C [Christopher] Middleton[1731]
CLP/9ii/31Paper, 'The use of a new azimuth compass for finding the variation of the compass or magnetic needle at sea, with greater ease and exactness, than by any ever yet contrived for that purpose' by Captain Christopher Middleton[1739]
Add to My Items
    Referees’ Reports

    Referees’ Reports

    Useful Links

    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The mammals of Australia
    The mammals of Australia
    Early Letters
    Early Letters
    Papers of Howard Florey
    Papers of Howard Florey
    Papers of Elsie Widdowson and Robert McCance
    Papers of Elsie Widdowson and Robert McCance
    Browse Collections

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView