Person Parker; George (c 1697 - 1764); 2nd Earl of Macclesfield; astronomer and politician Parker George astronomer and politician c 1697 - 1764 British Male Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe 17 March 1764 17640317 Burial: Shirburn, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Soho Square, Westminster (1722-1731); Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire (-1764)

Politician Astronomy Education: Studied mathematics with Abraham de Moivre (FRS 1697) and William Jones (FRS 1711); Inner Temple (admitted 1706); Clare College, Cambridge (admitted 1715); Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; MA (fil nob 1718); Oxford (DCL 1759) Career: Teller of the Exchequer (1719-1764); travelled to Italy (1720); MP for Wallingford (1722-1727); with James Bradley (FRS 1718) built an observatory at Shirburn Castle (c1739); was instrumental in securing the change of calendar from old style to new (1752); Vice President of the Foundling Hospital; High Steward of Henley-on-Thames Memberships: FSA (1752) Parents: Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, and Janet Carrier; succeeded his father (1732); titled Viscount Parker (1721-1732) Married: 1) Mary Lane; Dorothy Nesbitt Children: Thomas Parker, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield; George Lane Parker The collection which Parker amassed during his life form one of the most important collections of English mathematical manuscripts from the 17th century and include some of Sir Isaac Newton's (FRS 1672) correspondence. Parker is also credited with securing the post of astronomer royal for his friend and occasional assistant, James Bradley (FRS 1718). He is most well-remembered for being instrumental in securing the calendar reform of 1752. Royal Society roles: Council 1723-1724; 1731; PRS 1752-1764 Fellow 25/10/1722 William Jones Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; GEC; Venn; Sedgwick; ODNB References: David Philip Miller, 'The "Hardwicke Circle": the Whig Supremacy and its Demise in the 18th-Century Royal Society' in NR 1998 vol 52 pp 73-91, plate William S Pierpoint, 'Edward Stone (1702-1768) and Edmund Stone (1700-1768): Confused Identities Resolved' in NR 1997 vol 51 pp 211-217 Richard Sorrenson, 'Towards a History of the Royal Society in the Eighteenth Century' in NR 1996 vol 50 pp 29-46, plate A E Gunther, 'The Royal Society and the Foundation of the British Museum, 1753-1781' in NR 1978-9 vol 33 pp 207-216 M Crosland, 'Relationships between the Royal Society and the Academie des Sciences in the late eighteenth century' in NR 2005 vol 59 pp 25-34 P Quarrie 'The Scientific library of the earls of Macclesfield' in NR 2006 vol 60 pp 5-25 Gentleman's Magazine 1764, p147 (obituary) London Magazine 1764, p163 (obituary) ©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://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Parker%2C+George RCN: 58276 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH6469 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-9663 1697 - 17 Mar 1764 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 30/03/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7562 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 24/09/2025 RS_NET\louisianef Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/47163247 fa8c1e19-e7dd-4c2a-874d-7744972d4013