John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley
Encyclopedia
John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley FRS
FRAS
(5 August 1798 – 27 October 1867) was an English
astronomer
.
Wrottesley was the son of John Wrottesley, 1st Baron Wrottesley
, and his first wife Lady Caroline Bennet, daughter of Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville
. He succeeded his father in the barony on March 16, 1841. Wrottesley is distinguished for his attainments in astronomical science, was a founding member of the Royal Astronomical Society
and served as its president from 1841 to 1842. In 1839 he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
for his Catalogue of the Right Ascensions of 1,318 Stars. He was also President of the Royal Society
from 1854 to 1858. In 1853 he called the attention of the House of Lords to Lieutenant Maury
's valuable scheme of meteorological observations and discoveries; and on Nov. 30, 1855, succeeded the Earl of Rosse as President of the Royal Society.
The crater Wrottesley
on the Moon
is named in honour of John Wrottesley.
Lord Wrottesley died in October 1867, aged 69, and was succeeded in the baronetcy and barony by his son Arthur Wrottesley
.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
FRAS
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
(5 August 1798 – 27 October 1867) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
Wrottesley was the son of John Wrottesley, 1st Baron Wrottesley
John Wrottesley, 1st Baron Wrottesley
John Wrottesley, 1st Baron Wrottesley , known as Sir John Wrottesley, 9th Baronet, from 1787 to 1838, was a British soldier and Member of Parliament....
, and his first wife Lady Caroline Bennet, daughter of Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville
Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville
Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville , styled Lord Ossulston from 1753 to 1767, was a British nobleman, a collector of shells and a famous patron of Surrey cricket in the 1770s. He agreed a set of cricket rules that included the first mention of the Leg before wicket rule. His wife, Emma, was...
. He succeeded his father in the barony on March 16, 1841. Wrottesley is distinguished for his attainments in astronomical science, was a founding member of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
and served as its president from 1841 to 1842. In 1839 he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
-History:In the early years, more than one medal was often awarded in a year, but by 1833 only one medal was being awarded per year. This caused a problem when Neptune was discovered in 1846, because many felt an award should jointly be made to John Couch Adams and Urbain Le Verrier...
for his Catalogue of the Right Ascensions of 1,318 Stars. He was also President of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
from 1854 to 1858. In 1853 he called the attention of the House of Lords to Lieutenant Maury
Matthew Fontaine Maury
Matthew Fontaine Maury , United States Navy was an American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, and educator....
's valuable scheme of meteorological observations and discoveries; and on Nov. 30, 1855, succeeded the Earl of Rosse as President of the Royal Society.
The crater Wrottesley
Wrottesley (crater)
Wrottesley is a lunar impact crater that is attached to the west-northwestern rim of the larger crater Petavius, and lies along the southeast edge of Mare Fecunditatis...
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 in honour of John Wrottesley.
Lord Wrottesley died in October 1867, aged 69, and was succeeded in the baronetcy and barony by his son Arthur Wrottesley
Arthur Wrottesley, 3rd Baron Wrottesley
Arthur Wrottesley, 3rd Baron Wrottesley , was a British peer and Liberal politician.-Biography:Wrottesley was the son of John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley, President of the Royal Society, and his wife Sophia Elizabeth Giffard, daughter of Thomas Giffard...
.