Person Ronalds; Sir; Francis (1788 - 1873); inventor and meteorologist Ronalds Francis Sir inventor and meteorologist 1788 - 1873 British Male London, England 21 February 1788 17880221 St Mary's Villa, Battle, Sussex, England 08 August 1873 18730808 Burial: Battle, Sussex, England

Chiswick, Middlesex

Meteorology Physics Electrical engineering Education: Revd E. Cogan's school at Cheshunt; joined the family firm, Field and Ronalds, wholesale cheesemongers in Upper Thames Street, London (1803); following the death of his father he ran the firm (1806) Career: Exhibited a strong interest in experimentation and the construction of scientific apparatus from a young age; encouraged by Jean André de Luc, he conducted practical experiments in electrical transmission at his residence, Kelmscott House. He set up two parallel wooden structures, 20 yards apart, connecting them with insulated wire for a continuous length of 8 miles. His success demonstrated that, in dry weather, electric signals could be transmitted almost instantaneously over distances (1814); Ronalds further developed an electrical telegraph apparatus, incorporating a single underground line of 525 feet within thick glass tubes coated with pitch. Despite the system's slow pace, he established synchronization routines for two dials, proving its functionality over the buried wire. Although he did not seek a patent, Ronalds detailed his experiments in a pamphlet titled "Descriptions of an Electrical Telegraph and of some other Electrical Apparatus" (1823); wrote to the Admiralty, highlighting the rapidity and practicality of his telegraph. However, the Admiralty considered telegraphs unnecessary, and his system was not adopted (1816); embarked on a tour of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, documenting his experiences and expanding his collection of books on electricity and magnetism (1823); invented and patented a device for sketching from nature (1825), followed by an improved version (1828); became the honorary director of the former Royal Observatory at Kew, conducting experiments in the continuous automatic registration of meteorological data by photography. Despite sharing credit with Charles Wheatstone, Ronalds asserted his independent invention of the system (1842); retired and received a civil-list pension for his contributions to electicity and meteorology (1852); in hi slater years compiled a bibliographical catalogue of works on electricity, magnetism, and related subjects, bequeathing his collection to the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) (1880) Honours: Kt 1871 Parents: Francis Ronalds (1761–1806), merchant, and Jane (1766–1852), daughter of William Field, merchant, and Ann Bailey. Siblings: Alfred Ronalds, authore of the classic book The Fly-fisher's Entomology (1836); Hugh Ronalds was one of the founders of the city of Albion in the American Midwest; Emily Ronalds, social reformer. Uncle: Hugh Ronalds, nurseryman Nephews: Professor Edumnd Ronalds, academic and industrial chemist; Hugh Carter, portrait painter Known for the electric telegraph, continuously recording camera, and perspective drawing instruments. Knighted for creating the first working electric telegraph over a substantial distance. The Royal Society made an initial grant of £50 from the Wollaston fund toward the costs of constructing the apparatus devised by Ronalds and in 1851 a further grant of £100 to fund a six-month experimental trial. In gratitude Ronalds was to bequeath £500 to the Royal Society. Fellow 01/02/1844 56 Henry Moseley; Edward Sabine; Edward Solly; Charles Wheatstone; William Brockedon; William Thomas Brande; Michael Faraday; Thomas Graham Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB Notes: Biog Mem in "Catalogue of the Ronalds Library" 1880. ©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?ContribRaw=Ronalds%2C+Francis RCN 51063 RCN R61298 RCN R61299 RCN 28673 21 Feb 1788 - 8 Aug 1873 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. NA7632 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 26/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/61893045 46531579-a61e-44c9-a440-e09371261b2b