George Bishop (21 August 1785, in Leicester – 14 June 1861), was a noted

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astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets and galaxies – in either ...

of the nineteenth century. L’Astronomia Pratique, André et Rayat, i. 95 Ann. Reg. ciii. 402

Early life and fortune

At the age of eighteen Bishop entered a British

wine-making Winemaking or vinification is the production of wine, starting with the selection of the fruit, its fermentation into alcohol, and the bottling of the finished liquid. The history of wine-making stretches over millennia. The science of wine and w ...

business in

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, subsequently becoming its proprietor, during his tenure at which the business was so successful that its

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returns were said to exhibit half of all home-made wines as of his manufacture. Bishop's scientific career began with his admission to the

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

in 1830, funded by the money he had earned from the wine business. He took lessons in algebra from Augustus De Morgan, with a view to reading

Pierre-Simon Laplace Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace (; ; 23 March 1749 – 5 March 1827) was a French scholar and polymath whose work was important to the development of engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy, and philosophy. He summarized ...

's five volume work ''Mécanique Céleste'' (Celestial Mechanics), by the age of fifty achieving his goal of sufficient mathematical knowledge to comprehend the scope of its methods.

Career in astronomy

In 1836 Bishop was able to realise a long-held intention by erecting an astronomical observatory near his residence at the South Villa of Regent's Park, on which he spared no expense in order to ensure that it would be of practical use. "I am determined," he said when choosing its site, "that this observatory shall do something." A testimonial was awarded to Bishop by the

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

in 1848 "for the foundation of an observatory leading to various astronomical discoveries" and presented to him with a warmly commendatory address by Sir John Herschel. He acted as secretary to the society from 1833 to 1839 and as treasurer from 1840 to 1857, and was chosen president in two successive years, 1857 and 1858, although the state of his health rendered him unable to take the chair. Bishop was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathemat ...

on 9 June 1848, was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and sat for some years on the council of

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. After a long period of physical illness, but during which he retained his mental faculties, Bishop died on 14 June 1861 at the age of 76.

Publications

* ''Astronomical Observations taken at the Observatory, South Villa, Regent's Park, during the years 1839-51'', including a catalogue of double stars observed by Dawes and Hind, with valuable "historical and descriptive notes" by the latter, observations of new planets and comets, and of the temporary star discovered by Hind in Ophiuchus 27 April 1848, and a description of the observatory; London: Taylor, Walton and Maberly, 1852.

References

External links

''Astronomical Observations taken at the Observatory, South Villa, Regent's Park, during the years 1839-51''
on

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop, George 1785 births 1861 deaths 19th-century British astronomers Fellows of the Royal Society Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery