Person Graham-Smith; Sir; Francis (1923-2025); astronomer Graham-Smith Francis Sir astronomer Francis Graham- Smith 1923-2025 British Male London, England, United Kingdom 25 April 1923 19230425 20 June 2025 20250620

Old School House in Henbury, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom (1981-2021)

Astronomer Radio astronomy Astronomy Education: Rossall School, Fleet-wood, Lancashire; Downing College, Cambridge 1941 Career: Worked on the Long Michelson Interferometer, University of Cambridge (1940s); Professor of Radio Astronomy at The University of Manchester (1964); Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (1975-1981); Director of the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, part of the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank (1981); became the 13th Astronomer Royal (1982-1990); Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux (1985); Professor Emeritus, Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of Manchester. Honours: Kt 1986 Memberships: RAS ( President 1975-1977) FInstP Awards/Medals: Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize 1991 Parents: Claud Smith, civil servant, and Cicely (nee Kingston). Spouse: (m. 1945) Elizabeth Graham-Smith (nee Palmer) (d. 2021). Children: One daughter and three sons. Distinguished for his contributions to Radio Astronomy. He was associated with the early investigations of galactic radio emission and in 1948 with Ryle discovered the intense Cassiopeia radio source. It was Smith's precise determination of the co-ordinates of the Cygnus radio source which justified the search with the 200 inch Palomar telescope leading to the first of the identifications of peculiar and extremely remote objects in the universe. Smith's mastery of the radio astronomical techniques subsequently enabled him to undertake a series of important researches both by ground based systems and at the low frequency end of the spectrum in the UK.2 satellite. His success in detecting radio pulses from large cosmic ray showers has recently opened an important new field of research. He was an avid bee keeper and looked after the hives at Jodrell Bank. He was a patron of Humanists UK. Royal Society roles: Council: 1988-1994; Sec 1988-1994; VP 1988-1994 Medals and prizes: Royal Medal 1987 Fellow 19/03/1970 46 Royal Astronomical Society, Sir Francis Graham-Smith, 1923–2025, Sam Tonkin, 25 June 2025, [URL: https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/sir-francis-graham-smith-1923-2025; last accessed: 03/09/2025] The University of Manchester, Professor Tim O'Brien, Goodbye to a founder of radio astronomy, 25 June 2025, [URL: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/goodbye-to-a-founder-of-radio-astronomy/; last accessed: 03/09/2025] University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory Department of Physics, Sir Francis Graham-Smith (1923-2025), 24 June 2025, [URL: https://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/news/sir-francis-graham-smith-1923-2025/; last accessed: 03/09/2025] The Guardian (USA), Sir Francis Graham-Smith obituary, Michael Rowan-Robinson, 24 July 2025, [URL: https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-guardian-usa/20250724/282668988399673; last accessed: 03/09/2025] International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Anglo American Cataloguing Rules (second edition) rules for double barrelled and compound surnames. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Graham-Smith%2C+Francis RCN 51837 RCN 57037 RCN 6220 RCN 20522 RCN 58163 RCN 6614 RCN 57036 25 Apr 1923 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 03/09/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA4145 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 03/09/2025 RS_NET\VidaM Yes 33248dd4-407b-43a1-9ac4-5e8ee5458c33