Person Flamsteed; John (1646 - 1719); astronomer Flamsteed John astronomer 1646 - 1719 British Male Denby, Derbyshire, England, Europe 19 August 1646 16460819 Greenwich, London, England, Europe 31 December 1719 17191231 Burial: The chancel of Burstow parish church, Surrey, England, Europe (12 January 1720)

Royal Greenwich Observatory (1676-)

Astronomer; Clergyman, Church of England Astronomy Education: Derby School; Jesus College, Cambridge (MA Lit. Reg. 1674) Career: Left school because of an attack of rheumatism (1662); travelled to Ireland in search of a cure; went to London (1670) where he met Henry Oldenburg (FRS 1663) and Sir Jonas Moore (FRS 1674), who became his patron; ordained (1675); appointed first Astronomer Royal by Royal Warrant (1675-1719); used his own instruments, which were removed by his widow after his death; Vicar of Burstow, Surrey (1684); on 12 December 1709 Queen Anne appointed a Board of Visitors of the Royal Observatory made up of the president and council of the Royal Society, authorizing them to demand a copy of each year's observations, to direct what observations should be made, and to examine the observatory's instruments; his observations were published to his very high standards posthumously in 1725 edited by his wife Margaret, and his 'Atlas Coelestis' in 1729, where the editor was again his wife with Crosthwait and Sharp responsible for the technical side Memberships: Oxford Philosophical Society Parents: Stephen Flamsteed and Mary Spatemen Married: Margaret Cooke Flamsteed is most remembered for the founding of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, his subsequent appointment as first Astronomer Royal, as well as the posthumous publications of 'Catalogus Britannicus' and 'Atlas Coelestis'. His constant refusal to publish his observations unless they were perfect led to conflict with Isaac Newton (FRS 1672) and Edmond Halley (FRS 1678). Halley later published an incomplete version of the star catalogue, which Flamsteed condemned. He burnt most of Halley's unsold copies of the catalogue and reportedly kept some to display the errors. His wife was editor for both posthumous publications. One of the moon's craters is named after him, as is the asteroid 4987 Flamsteed. Royal Society roles: Council 1681, 1683, 1685, 1692, 1694, 1699 Frequent correspondent to Henry Oldenburg; Sent in his astronomical observations and predictions (early 1670s); Ejected 09/11/1709. The Society ended his exemption from dues and used this as a reason to eject him. Fellow 08/02/1677 30 09/11/1709 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Venn; Hunter; Gunther; ODNB References: Appleby, J H. 2003. 'The founding of St Petersburg in the context of the Royal Society's relationship with Russia', in Notes and Records, vol. 57, pp. 273-284 Chapman, A. 1999. ''Our Astronomical Observator', review of Frances Willmoth, ed., Flamsteed's Stars, New Perspectives on the Life and Work of the First Astronomer Royal (1646-1719)', in Notes and Records, vol. 53, pp. 170-171 Cook, A. 2003. '1703 and other anniversaries', in Notes and Records, vol. 57, pp. 1-2 Cook, A. 2003. 'The end of the affair. The correspondence of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, vol 3 (1703-1719) by E G Forbes, L Murdin and F Willmoth', in Notes and Records, vol. 57, pp. 113-116 Cook, A. 2004. 'Rome and the Royal Society, 1660-1740', in Notes and Records, vol. 58, pp. 3-19 Cook, Sir A. 1998. ''Greenwich Comes of Age', review of Eric G Forbes, Lesley Murdin and Frances Willmoth, The Correspondence of John Flamsteed, the First Astronomer Royal. Volume Two, 1682-1703', in Notes and Records, vol. 52, pp. 191-193 Croarken, M. 2003. 'Astronomical labourers: Maskelyne's assistants at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1765 - 1811', in Notes and Records, vol. 57, pp. 273-284 Da Costa Andrade, E N. 1965. 'The Birth and Early Days of the Philosophical Transactions', in Notes and Records, vol. 20, pp. 9-27 Forbes, Eric G. 1973-74. 'The Library of the Rev. John Flamsteed, FRS, First Astronomer Royal', in Notes and Records, vol. 28, pp. 119-143 Hall, M B. 1974-75. 'The Royal Society's Role in the Diffusion of Information in the Seventeenth Century', in Notes and Records, vol. 29, pp. 173-192 Hughes, D W. 1988. 'The Principia and Comets', in Notes and Records, vol. 42, pp. 53-74 Lovell, Sir B. 1975-76. 'Address at Westminster Abbey, on the Occasion of the Tercentenary of the Royal Greenwich Observatory', in Notes and Records, vol. 30, pp. 127-132 M Croarken, 'Astronomical labourers: Maskelyne's assistants at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1765 - 1811' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 285 - 298 McCrea, W H. 1975-76. 'The Royal Observatory and the Study of Gravitation', in Notes and Records, vol. 30, pp. 133-140 Meadows, A J. 1996. ''John Flamsteed, Our Astronomical Observator', review of The Correspondence of John Flamsteed, First Astronomer Royal. Volume I (1666-1682), ed. Eric G Forbes et al', in Notes and Records, vol. 50, pp. 250-253 Spencer Jones, Sir H. 1956-57. 'Halley as an Astronomer', in Notes and Records, vol. 12, pp. 175-192 Whiteside, D T. 1991. 'The Prehistory of the Principia from 1664 to 1686', in Notes and Records, vol. 45, pp. 11-61 Flamsteed P0041.jpg ©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=Flamsteed%2C+John RCN: 40247 RCN: 39362 RCN: 39361 RCN: 39360 RCN: 39359 RCN: R79741 RCN: 17514 RCN: 40397 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH2949 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-9345 19 Aug 1646 - 31 Dec 1719 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 05/09/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8219 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 21/01/2026 RS_NET\VidaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/64164356 d17a65f1-3ca9-465b-b240-86bc17c63ed3