Person Tennant; James Francis (1829 - 1915); army officer and astronomer Tennant James Francis army officer and astronomer 1829 - 1915 British Male Calcutta, West Bengal, India, Asia 10 January 1829 18290110 11 Clifton Gardens, Maida Hill, London 06/03/1915 19150306

22 Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, London (1867); India (1867); 11 Clifton Villas, Maida Vale, London

Astronomer Spectroscopy Solar physics Astronomy Mathematics Education: Private schools and East India Company's Military Seminary at Addiscombe (1845-1847). Career: Joined the trigonometrical survey team of the Bengal Engineers, tasked with triangulating the western section of the great longitudinal series from the Sironj base to Karachi (1849); became prominent in the fields of eclipse and transit studies (1855); temporary director of the Madras Observatory from October (1859-1860); entered the service of the East India Company; started as second lieutenant and later promoted to captain and then major (1858); whilst on leave in England, in consultation with other scientist such as William Huggins (FRS 1865), George Gabriel Stokes (FRS 1851), and Warren De La Rue (FRS 1850), he organized an observing programme (1867); promoted to lieutenant-colonel (1869); colonel (1875); major-general (1883); and lieutenant-general (1884); served in Bengal during the Indian Mutiny; Master of the Calcutta Mint (1875-1885); retired on a pension (1882); served as a British delegate to the 1887 Paris Astrographic Conference; as a member of the council of the Royal Astronomical Society (1885), and as its president (1890–1); died of bronchial catarrh and cardiac failure (1915). Honours: CIE 1879 Memberships: FRAS; FGS; Royal Photographic Society Parents: Sir James Tennant (1789–1854), Brigadier-General of the Bengal Artillery, and Elizabeth Louisa (1803–1882), daughter of Charles Pattenson, of the Bengal civil service. Spouse: 1) Augusta, daughter of William Fleming Dick, of the Bengal civil service, and his wife, Emily Anne, née Shakespear (1852); 2) Selina Tudor Crawford, daughter of James Henry Crawford, of the Bengal civil service, and Charlotte Mary Anne, née Shakespear. Children: 1st marriage) James Blair; William Francis; Robert Hamilton; Mary Augusta. 2nd marriage) three daughters. Pioneer in solar physics, through his observations of the total eclipses of 1868 and 1871 and the transit of Venus of 1874; of spectroscopy; and of astronomical photography. Considered an early authority on the black drop effect Tennant gained recognition as an observer for the Royal Astronomical Society during significant astronomical events. He contributed observations for the solar eclipse of 17 August 1868 over the Indian peninsula, the eclipse of 11 December 1871 in southern India, and the transit of Venus in 1874. Notably, these observations marked the extensive use of photographic equipment for the first time. Tennant, with his expertise in photography, played a crucial role in enhancing the accuracy of eclipse observations, particularly in capturing details of the solar corona. Fellow 03/06/1869 40 John Couch Adams; Arthur Cayley; Jon Cape; Warren De La Rue; Balfour Stewart; Edward William Brayley; Charles Pritchard Henry James; David Thomas Ansted; Andrew Scott Waugh; Isaac Todhunter; George Biddell Airy; Alexander Ross Clarke; Charles Piazzi Smyth; James Challis Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc Series A 1915-1916 vol 92 pp x-xiv signed by H H T 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 RCN R65836 RCN R65837 RCN R65838 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-9116 10 Jan 1829 - 6 Mar 1915 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 31/01/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA6352 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 05/06/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/34849192 acbd8800-1d70-4636-8a19-b2c181426e4f