Person Christie; Samuel Hunter (1784 - 1865); mathematician Christie Samuel Hunter mathematician 1784 - 1865 British Male 90 Pall Mall, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe 22 March 1784 1784 Ailsa Park Villas, Twickenham, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe 24 January 1865 1865 Burial: St Mary's Church, Twickenham, Middlesex (30 January 1865)

3 Ailsa Park Villas, Twickenham, Middlesex (1858-1865)

Magnetism Education: Walworth School; Trinity College Cambridge (1800-1805) Career: Captain of university volunteers' grenadier company; graduated as second wrangler (1805); appointed third mathematical master at Royal Military Academy (1806); promoted to first mathematical master (1830) and became professor until his retirement (1838-1854); published 'An Elementary Course of Mathematics' (1845; 1847) Memberships: Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (1838) Clubs: Athenaeum (1837) Parents: James Christie and Sarah Margaret Pomroy Married: 1) Elizabeth Theodora Claydon; 2) Margaret Ellen Malcolm Children: ten children, incl. James Robert Christie; Charles Claydon Christie; Sir William Henry Mahoney Christie (FRS 1881); Margaret Ellen Tallent Christie's research was almost exclusively focussed on terrestrial magnetism. He observed the alteration of iron's magnetic properties through rotation, demonstrated the relationship between temperature and magnetic intensity, and additionally showed a relationship between the aurora borealis and terrestrial magnetism. Furthermore, he was a central figure in the establishment of the colonial magnetic observatories and was key in the delivery process based at the Woolwich arsenal. Royal Society roles: Secretary (1837-1854); proposed for Principal Secretary (November 1838) Committee and panels: Catalogue Committee (1 December 1832) ; Telescope Committee (1 December 1832) ; Meteorological Committee (1 December 1832) ; Medal Committee ; Donation Fund Committee (13 December 1832) ; Committee of Mathematics ; Committee of Physics Lectures: Bakerian Lecture (1833) Fellow 12/01/1826 41 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; ODNB Woolwich Churchyard Monumental Inscriptions Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc 1866-1867 vol 15 pp xi-xiv References: Ronald Anderson, 'The Referees' Assessment of Faraday's Electromagnetic Induction Paper of 1831' in NR 1993 vol 47 pp 243-256 James Gabriel O'Hara, 'Gauss and the Royal Society: The Reception of His Ideas on Magnetism in Britain (1832-1842)' in NR 1983-84 vol 38 pp 17-78 K K Schwarz, 'Faraday and Babbage' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 367-381 Notes: Citation: one word deliberately obscured on election certificate 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/doi/10.1098/rspl.1866.0002 RCN: 13877 22 Mar 1784 - 24 Jan 1865 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 20/10/2021 as part of Name Authority Project update. NA8168 21/11/2001 Andyg pmab 17/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/3254784 60da6592-982f-4294-abfe-f5295e6b315a