Royal Greenwich Observatory
Nevil Maskselyne papers, circa 1743-1822.
Includes: A. Observation ledgers; computation books; solar, lunar, and planetary investigations; reductions, various items of correspondence, journals, note-books, accounts, mathematical notes and papers, a manuscript biography of Maskelyne, papers on navigation; chronometer trials; and much miscellaneous material make up this very complete set of this Astronomer Royal's working papers. B. Documentation of important topics and events, such as: the 'Schiehallion Experiment' to ascertain the constant of proportionality in Newton's law of universal gravitation; award of the 'Longitude prize' to the clockmaker John Harrison. C. The following is a list of the names of correspondents and others as they appear in the handlist to this class of papers in RGO Archives. It must be remembered that this is not necessarily an exhaustive list of names as they appear in the papers themselves. Researchers interested in a particular period are invited to write to the RGO Archivist at the above address if they are interested in particular individuals whose names do not appear below, but who could possibly have been in correspondence with the person or institution responsible for creating the class. Correspondents: C. Barton; G. Barlellinni; W. Barrants; R. C. Barnard; W. Bayly; J. Bird; C. Blagden; W. Bligh; N. Bliss; P. Bougeur; James Bradley; Dr. Brinkby; T. Brown; Sir F. Burdett; Burg; R. Burrow; J. Campbell; J. Caneles; H. Cavendish; Claibaut; T. Clapp; Lord Cochrane; R. Coffin; C. Condamine; Coombes; J. Crosley; E. Dacosta; A. Dalambert; F. Drake; G. Dulland; W. Dunkin; J. Earnshaw; G. Eckard; Edward I (King); J. Edwards; Mrs. M. Edwards; L. Euler; R. Fenwick; J. Flamsteed; E. G. Forbes; Dr. Franklin; W. Garrard; Dr. Gauss; George III (King); G. Gilpen; L. Godin; J. Goldenham; W. Gooch; J. Gray; C. Green; Grignions; S. Groombridge; M. Guerrin; C. Haggis; Dr. Halley; T. Hammersly; Mr. Harding; W. Herschel; P. Heywood; S. Hind; J. Hodgeson; Mr. Hollis; J. Horsburgh; W. Howe; Capt. Hubbart; J. Inman; R. Ker; Lacailles; Lalandes; Dr. Layard; J. Mackenzie; W. Manwaring; J. Mapson; W. Marland; W. Marsden; T. Martyn; Baron Maseres; Margaret Maskelyne; N. Maskelyne; Messier; Sir J. Moore; Gail Morris; Sir I. Newton; G. Piazzi; Pingre; J. Pond; Lord Sandwich; B. Workman; and E. Zanotti, among others.
Maskselyne (1732-1811) was fifth Astronomer Royal, in office 1765-1811. Graduating in mathematics from the University of Cambridge in 1754, Maskelyne's interest in astronomy had been first aroused in seeing the solar eclipse of 1748. Maskelyne came to the notice of James Bradley, who arranged that he should travel to St. Helena in the South Atlantic to observe the transit of Venus of 1761. His involvement with investigations into the competing chronometric and purely astronomical methods of determining longitude lead Maskelyne to become the natural choice of successor to Nathaniel Bliss as Astronomer Royal, and office to which he was appointed in 1765.
Bradley, James, 1693?-1762.
Cavendish, Henry, 1731-1810
Flamsteed, John, 1646-1719.
Herschel, William, 1738-1822
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811 -- Records and correspondence.
Astronomical observatories -- Administration -- England -- 18th century.
Astronomy -- Observations
Astronomy -- Mathematics.
Chronometers -- Testing.
Gravitation (Constant of) -- Experiments.
Moon -- Research.
Navigation.
Planets -- Research.
Science -- Awards -- England.
Sun -- Research.
Ledgers. aat
Schiehallion Experiment.
Barton, C.
Barlellinni, G.
Barrants, W.
Barnard, R. C.
Bayly, W.
Bird, J.
Blagden, C.
Bligh, W.
Bliss, Nathaniel, 1700-1764.
Bouguer, M. (Pierre), 1698-1758.
Brinkby, Dr.
Brown, T.
Burdett, F., Sir.
Burg.
Burrow, R.
Campbell, J.
Caneles, J.
Claibaut.
Clapp, T.
Cochrane, Lord.
Coffin, R.
Condamine, C.
Coombes.
Crosley, J.
Dacosta, E.
Dalambert, A.
Drake, F.
Dulland, G.
Dunkin, W.
Earnshaw, J.
Eckard, G.
Edward I, King.
Edwards, J.
Edwards, M., Mrs.
Euler, Leonhard, 1707-1783.
Fenwich, R.
Forbes, E. G.
Franklin, Dr.
Garrard, W.
Gauss, Carl Friedrich, 1777-1855.
George III, King.
Gilpen, G.
Godin, L.
Goldenham, J.
Gooch, W.
Gray, J.
Green, Cecil Howard, 1900-2003-
Grignions.
Groombridge, S.
Guerrin, M.
Haggis, C.
Halley, Edmond, 1656-1742.
Hammersly, T.
Harding, Mr.
Harrison, John, clockmaker and recipient of 'Longitude Prize'.
Heywood, P.
Hind, S.
Hodgeson, J.
Hollis, Mr.
Horsburgh, J.
Howe, W.
Hubbart, Capt.
Inman, J.
Ker, R.
Lacailles.
Lalandes.
Layard, Dr.
Mackenzie, J.
Manwaring, W.
Mapson, J.
Marland, W.
Marsden, W.
Martyn, T.
Maseres, Baron.
Maskelyne, Margaret.
Messier.
Moore, J., Sir.
Morris, Gail.
Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727
Piazzi, G.
Pingr,̌ Alexandre Guy, 1711-1796.
Pond, John, 1767-1836.
Sandwich, Lord.
Workman, B.
Zanotti, E.
Schiehallion Experiment.
AIP-ICOS
Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives Department of Manuscripts and University Archives. Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR, England UK