Reginald Lawson Waterfield (12 April 1900 – 10 June 1986 in Woolston) was a British

hematologist Hematology (American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, always spelled haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to ...

known for his work in

amateur astronomy Amateur astronomy is a hobby where participants enjoy observing or imaging celestial objects in the sky using the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Even though scientific research may not be their primary goal, some amateur astronomers m ...

, specialising in

astrometry Astrometry is a branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. It provides the kinematics and physical origin of the Solar System and this galaxy, the Milky Way. His ...

and the photography of

comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...

s. He was elected to the British Astronomical Association on 25 November 1914 and to the

Royal Astronomical Society (Whatever shines should be observed) , predecessor = , successor = , formation = , founder = , extinction = , merger = , merged = , type = NGO ...

on 10 November 1916. Both elections being at the proposal of W H Steavenson. Waterfield served as Director of the British Astronomical Association Mars Section from 1931 to 1942 and its president from 1954 to 1956. For his work in astronomy he won the 1942

Jackson-Gwilt Medal The Jackson-Gwilt Medal is an award that has been issued by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) since 1897. The original criteria were for the invention, improvement, or development of astronomical instrumentation or techniques; for achievement ...

. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he had to use a wheelchair due to

polio Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...

. The minor planet 1645 Waterfield is named jointly for him and his cousin William Francis Herschel Waterfield (1886-1933), who was also a member of the British Astronomical Association and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He was the son of Reginald Waterfield, a prominent teacher and clergyman.

Books

Waterfield wrote two books on astronomy:- • A Hundred Years of Astronomy, Duckworth, 1938. • The Revolving Heavens, 1942.

Obituaries

QJRAS vol 28 (1987), p. 544

JBAA Jbaa (Arabic: جباع; Syriac: ܓܒܐܥ; Phoenician: 𐤂𐤁𐤀𐤏), is a town in Lebanon located about 22 km (14 miles) from Sidon and 64 km (40 miles) from Beirut. It is part of the Nabatieh Governorate. Jbaa is situated on the gr ...

vol 97 (1987), p. 211

BMJ ''The BMJ'' is a weekly peer-reviewed medical trade journal, published by the trade union the British Medical Association (BMA). ''The BMJ'' has editorial freedom from the BMA. It is one of the world's oldest general medical journals. Origina ...

vol 293 (1986), p. 214

References

Amateur astronomers 20th-century British astronomers British haematologists 1900 births 1986 deaths British scientists with disabilities {{UK-astronomer-stub