Person Ramsden; Jesse (1735 - 1800) Ramsden Jesse 1735 - 1800 British Male Salterhebble, near Halifax, Yorkshire, England 06 October 1735 Brighton, Sussex 05 November 1800

Scientific instrument maker Mathematics Optics Physics Career: Apprentice to a cloth worker, Halifax; apprentice to Mark Burton, mathematical instrument maker, Denmark Street, Strand, London (1758); worked in the Dollond workshop (early 1760s); opened shops in Haymarket and Piccadilly; opened a shop on the Strand (1763); also invented scientific instruments. To own a Ramsden instrument, be it one of his great theodolites or one of the many sextants and barometers produced at his London workshop, was to own not only an instrument of incredible accuracy and great practical use, but also a thing of beauty. Ramsden was a perfectionist, sometimes to the frustration of waiting customers, but this did not limit his productivity. Married Sarah, daughter of John Dollond (FRS 1761); her portion was a share in her father's patent for making achromatic lenses Medals and prizes: Copley Medal 1795 Fellow 12/01/1786 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB References: Charles H Cotter, 'The Mariner's Sextant and the Royal Society' in NR 1978-9 vol 33 pp 23-36 John R Levene, 'Benjamin Franklin, FRS, Sir Joshua Reynolds, FRS, PRA, Benjamin West, PRA and the Invention of Bifocals' in NR 1972-3 vol 27 pp 141-163 A W Skempton and Joyce Brown, 'John and Edward Troughton, Mathematical Instrument Makers' in NR 1972-3 vol 27 pp 233-262 Douglas McKie, 'Priestley's Laboratory and Library and Other of his Effects' in NR 1956-57 vol 12 pp 114-136 Richard Sorrenson, 'Dollond and Sons pursuit of achromaticity, 1758-1789' in Historia Mathematica 28 (2) (May 2001) pp 31-55 Anita McConnell, 'Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800): London's leading scientific instrument maker' Ashgate (2007) ©The Royal Society 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 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-9553 6 Oct 1735 - 5 Nov 1800 NA6963 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/45086729 ae5cf589-ec93-423e-b24b-64a9094c8af6