James Stephen Rigaud (1726 – 16 April 1814), also known as Stephen Rigaud, was an astronomer of the 18th century.

Life

His parents were Pierre Rigaud and Anne Unice Mestre. Stephen Rigaud became Assistant Observer to Dr Stephen Demainbray at the King's Observatory, built near

Richmond Lodge Richmond Lodge was a historic property located near the River Thames in Richmond, London, in what is now known as Old Deer Park, lands belonging to the historic Richmond Palace. It was located close to the King's Observatory. It should not be con ...

for the

1769 Transit of Venus frameless, upright=0.5 A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and a superior planet, becoming visible against (and hence obscuring a small portion of) the solar disk. During a transi ...

. In 1771 he married Deminbray's daughter Mary at

St Mary Magdalene's Church, Richmond St Mary Magdalene, Richmond, in the Anglican Diocese of Southwark, is a Listed building, Grade II* listed parish church on Paradise Road, Richmond, London. The church, dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene, was built in the early 16th c ...

. going on to live at 5 Old Palace Terrace in the town. They had two children, Mary Anne and Stephen Peter Rigaud, later an astronomer and mathematical historian. Mary Anne and Stephen Peter were painted by John Francis Rigaud in 1778 – they are posed in a park landscape with Kew Observatory in the background and although the painting is sometimes described as showing

Richmond Park Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the largest of London's Royal Parks, and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer pa ...

the topography makes it more likely that it shows the

Old Deer Park Old Deer Park is an area of open space within Richmond, owned by the Crown Estate, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. It covers of which are leased as sports grounds for sports, particularly rugby and golf. Despite the ...

, which surrounds the Observatory. Rigaud died in 1814 and is buried in the

Vineyard Passage Burial Ground Vineyard Passage Burial Ground is a cemetery on Vineyard Passage in Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Established in 1790 and consecrated in 1791, it was enlarged in 1823. The last burials were in 1874. Managed by Richmond ...

near the church where he had married.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rigaud, James Stephen 18th-century British astronomers 1726 births 1814 deaths Burials at Vineyard Passage Burial Ground