James Couper (9 August 1752 – 7 August 1836) was a Scottish astronomer. He was Professor of Astronomy at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

from 1803 to 1836.

Life

Couper was Professor of Astronomy at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

from 1803 to 1836. He also held other positions within the university including: * Dean of Faculties 1800–1801 * Clerk of Senate from 1810 to 1814, 1820 to 1828 * keeper of the Hunterian Museum (a joint position with his sons) He taught very little Astronomy and abandoned observations because of the increasing smoke and new buildings in the surrounding areas of the observatory. He seemed not to have considered building a new observatory outside the town. Couper was a student at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

and graduated Master of Arts in 1775, and Doctor of Divinity in 1800. He became minister of Baldernock Parish Church in 1783 until his appointment to the Regius Chair of Astronomy in 1803. In November 1813 Couper took on responsibility for teaching Hebrew when the then Professor of Oriental Languages became ill. He is buried in

Ramshorn Cemetery The Ramshorn Cemetery is a cemetery in Scotland and one of Glasgow's older burial grounds, located within the Merchant City district, and along with its accompanying church, is owned by the University of Strathclyde. It has had various names ...

on Ingram Street in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. The grave lies on the western wall of the main eastern entrance, close to where the cemetery widens.

Minister

Couper became minister of Baldernock Parish Church, East Renfrewshire, in 1783. In 1795, the present Church building was constructed during his tenure. Couper wrote in his first Statistical Account; ''"The greater part of the inhabitants of this parish devote their time to that most innocent and most useful of secular employments, the cultivation of the earth"''. The "living" received by Couper in 1783 consisted of ''"63 bolls1 boll is 6 Bushels of meal, £331 in money. a manse and a

Glebe Glebe (; also known as church furlong, rectory manor or parson's close(s))McGurk 1970, p. 17 is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved ...

of 10 acres whereof seven are arable"''.

Family

James Couper married Margaret Thomson on 11 November 1783. They had seven children; * John Couper, b. 16 January 1785, d.(date unknown) * Rev. James Couper, MA, b. 17 August 1786, d. 29 March 1822 * Sarah Couper, b. 5 April 1788, d.(date unknown) * Robert Thomson Couper, b. 6 January 1790, d. 4 February 1803 * William Couper, MD, b. 30 April 1792, d. 4 August 1857 * Henry Glassford Couper, b. 20 May 1793, d. 27 October 1800 * Henry Couper, b. 20 September 1801, d.(date unknown)

References

External links

* University of Glasgow Story; People
James Couper
* Family Research, Community Trees
Rev James Couper
1752 births 1836 deaths 18th-century British astronomers 18th-century Scottish scientists Academics of the University of Glasgow Scottish astronomers 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland 19th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland {{europe-astronomer-stub