Person Dyson; Sir; Frank Watson (1868 - 1939); astronomer Dyson Frank Watson Sir astronomer 1868 - 1939 British Male Measham, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England 08 January 1868 18680108 On board ship near Cape Town, South Africa 25/05/1939 19390525

Astronomer Horology Mathematics Astronomy Education: Early scholing in Nottinghamshire; Heath grammar school, Halifax; MA (Cantab) Career: Senior Assistant at Greenwich Observatory, working on the Astrographic Catalogue (1895); participated in eclipse expeditions (1896) and (1898); appointed Astronomer Royal for Scotland (1905-1910); Astronomer Royal and Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (1910-1933); organised solar eclipse observation expedition for the 1919 solar eclipse at Brazil and Principe (1918); for the 1927 eclipse, which was visible from northern England, he assisted in organising the first use of colour film and making of photographs from an aircraft (1927). Memberships: Royal Society of Edinburgh (1906) Royal Astronomical Society (President 1911-1913) British Astronomical Association (President 1916–1918) International Astronomical Union (President 1928–1932) Honours: Kt 1915; KBE 1926 Awards/Medals: Bruce Medal 1922 Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1925) Gold medal of British Horological Institute (1928) Parents: Watson Dyson (1837–1904), a Baptist minister, and Frances (1839–1909). Spouse: Caroline Bisset Best (1894). Noted for his studies of solar eclipses and his expertise on the spectrum of the corona and on the chromosphere. His 1919 eclipse observations confirmed Albert Einstein's (FRS 1921) theory of the effect of gravity on light. He introduced the distribution of the “six pips” via the BBC in 1924. The asteroid 1241 Dysona is named after him, as well as the crater Dyson on the Moon. Royal Society roles: VP 1913-1914 Medals and prizes: Royal Medal 1921 Fellow 06/06/1901 33 Edward John Routh; William Huggins; George Johnstone Stoney William Henry Mahoney Christie; Herbert Hall Turner; Andrew Ainslie Common; Percy Alexander MacMahon; Frank McClean; George Howard Darwin; James Whitbread Lee Glaisher; Robert Stawell Ball; William Davidson Niven Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DSB Obituaries: Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society 1939-1941 vol 3 pp 159-172, plate, by A S Eddington References: S Chandrasekhar, 'Verifying the Theory of Relativity' in NR 1975-6 vol 30 pp 249-260 W H McCrea, 'The Royal Observatory and the Study of Gravitation' in NR 1975-6 vol 30 pp 133-140, plate 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/rsbm.1940.0015 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Dyson%2C+Frank+Watson RCN 50819 RCN 50818 RCN 50817 8 Jan 1868 - 25 May 1939 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 10/04/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. 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 10/04/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8209 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/8134870 a884c6f9-c468-4823-bcae-7529168761a9