John Thomas Romney Robinson
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. Thomas Romney Robinson (23 April 1792 - 28 February 1882) was an Irish
astronomer
and physicist
. He was the longtime director of the Armagh Astronomical Observatory
, one of the chief astronomical observatories in the U.K. during the 19th century.
Robinson was born in Dublin. He was educated at Belfast Academy then continued his studies at Trinity College, Dublin
, and obtained a fellowship there in 1814 at age 22, and for some years was a deputy professor of natural philosophy
(physics) at Trinity. Having been also confirmed as an Anglican priest while at Trinity, he obtained the church livings at Enniskillen
and at Carrickmacross
in the early 1820s. In 1823, now aged 30, he additionally gained the appointment of astronomer at the Armagh observatory. From then on he always resided at the observatory, engaged in researches connected with astronomy and physics, until his death in 1882.
Robinson compiled a large catalog of stars, and published related papers in scientific journals. He received a Royal Medal
in 1862 "for the Armagh catalogue of 5345 stars, deduced from observations made at the Armagh Observatory, from the years 1820 up to 1854; for his papers on the construction of astronomical instruments in the memoirs of the Astronomical Society, and his paper on electromagnets in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy." He is also of note as the inventor of a device for measuring the speed of the wind, the Robinson anemometer
(1846).
The crater Robinson
on the Moon
is named after him. His daughter married the physicist George Gabriel Stokes
, and Stokes frequently visited Robinson in Armagh in Robinson's later years.
Irish
Irish may refer to:*Irish cuisine* Ireland, an island in north-western Europe, on which are located:** Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom** Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state...
astronomer
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. He was the longtime director of the Armagh Astronomical Observatory
Armagh Observatory
Armagh Observatory is a modern astronomical research institute with a rich heritage, based in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Around 25 astronomers are actively studying stellar astrophysics, the Sun, Solar System astronomy, and the Earth's climate....
, one of the chief astronomical observatories in the U.K. during the 19th century.
Robinson was born in Dublin. He was educated at Belfast Academy then continued his studies at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, and obtained a fellowship there in 1814 at age 22, and for some years was a deputy professor of natural philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
(physics) at Trinity. Having been also confirmed as an Anglican priest while at Trinity, he obtained the church livings at Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
and at Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross or Carrickmacros is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 4,387 according to the 2006 census, making it the second largest town in the county. The town won the prestigious European Entente Florale Silver Medal Award. It is a market town which...
in the early 1820s. In 1823, now aged 30, he additionally gained the appointment of astronomer at the Armagh observatory. From then on he always resided at the observatory, engaged in researches connected with astronomy and physics, until his death in 1882.
Robinson compiled a large catalog of stars, and published related papers in scientific journals. He received a Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1862 "for the Armagh catalogue of 5345 stars, deduced from observations made at the Armagh Observatory, from the years 1820 up to 1854; for his papers on the construction of astronomical instruments in the memoirs of the Astronomical Society, and his paper on electromagnets in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy." He is also of note as the inventor of a device for measuring the speed of the wind, the Robinson anemometer
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
(1846).
The crater Robinson
Robinson (crater)
Robinson is a small lunar impact crater that lies to the southwest of the large walled plain J. Herschel. It is located in the continental terrain to the north of the Mare Frigoris, in the northwestern part of the Moon's near side...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him. His daughter married the physicist George Gabriel Stokes
George Gabriel Stokes
Sir George Gabriel Stokes, 1st Baronet FRS , was an Irish mathematician and physicist, who at Cambridge made important contributions to fluid dynamics , optics, and mathematical physics...
, and Stokes frequently visited Robinson in Armagh in Robinson's later years.