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 The King's Observatory (called for many years the Kew Observatory) is a Grade I listed building in Richmond, London. Now a private dwelling, it formerly housed an astronomical observatory, astronomical and Terrestrial magnetism, terrestrial mag ...

, built near Richmond Lodge for the

1769 Transit of Venus file:Venus transit symbol.svg, frameless, upright=0.5 A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and a inferior and superior planets, superior planet, becoming visible against (and hence ...

. In 1771 he married Deminbray's daughter Mary at St Mary Magdalene's Church, Richmond. going on to live at 5 Old Palace Terrace in the town. They had two children, Mary Anne and

Stephen Peter Rigaud Stephen Peter Rigaud (12 August 1774–16 March 1839) FRAS was an English mathematical historian and astronomer. Rigaud was born into a French Protestant family. His father, Stephen (also known as James Stephen) Rigaud, was Observer at ...

, 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 Royal Parks of London, London's Royal Parks, and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I of England, C ...

the topography makes it more likely that it shows the

Old Deer Park Old Deer Park is an area of open space within Richmond, London, 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 ...

, which surrounds the Observatory. Rigaud died in 1814 and is buried in the Vineyard Passage Burial Ground 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