Stephen Demainbray
Encyclopedia
Stephen Charles Triboudet Demainbray, Esq. of Richmond (1710 – February 20, 1782) was an English natural scientist and astronomer
, who served during 1768-1782 as Superintendent of the King's Observatory (or King's Astronomer
) at the Kew Observatory
.
His father had come to England
from France
, following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes
, but died soon after the birth of his son, who was brought up by his uncle, who placed him at Westminster School. There he studied under Dr. Desaguliers
, who taught him mathematics
and natural philosophy
. After that he went to the Leiden University
.
In 1727 he married; his wife died in 1750.
In the year 1740, he began lecturing in experimental philosophy in Edinburgh
, until 1742, and the 1745 Jacobite rising brought him to take arms for the government for four years, and he was a volunteer at the battle of Preston-pans
.
In 1746 he resumed his lectures, and worked on the influence of electricity on vegetables. Three years later, he began traveling throughout Britain and Europe, lecturing in Dublin and Paris
. In 1753, he was invited to London
by the Prince of Wales, later George III
, and the Duke of York, on his return to England he married his second wife, Sarah Horne who was a sister of John Horne Tooke
. In 1755 he read a public course of lectures in the concert-room in Panton-street, and after gave private courses to members of the royal family, including the future King George III.
In 1768, he was appointed Superintendent of the King's Observatory (or King's Astronomer
) at the Kew Observatory
, in Richmond, which King George II had commissioned from Sir William Chambers
. He arranged for George III to see the Transit of Venus
on June 3, 1769. He held that appointment until his death on February 20, 1782.
His instruments were combined with the King's collection and given to the King's College London
and then, in 1927 to the Science Museum
.
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...
, who served during 1768-1782 as Superintendent of the King's Observatory (or King's 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...
) at the Kew Observatory
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
.
Life and work
Stephen Charles Triboudet Demainbray was born in the parish of St. Martins, London in 1710.His father had come to England
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...
from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes, issued on 13 April 1598, by Henry IV of France, granted the Calvinist Protestants of France substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic. In the Edict, Henry aimed primarily to promote civil unity...
, but died soon after the birth of his son, who was brought up by his uncle, who placed him at Westminster School. There he studied under Dr. Desaguliers
John Theophilus Desaguliers
John Theophilus Desaguliers was a natural philosopher born in France. He was a member of the Royal Society of London beginning 29 July 1714. He was presented with the Royal Society's highest honour, the Copley Medal, in 1734, 1736 and 1741, with the 1741 award being for his discovery of the...
, who taught him mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and 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...
. After that he went to the Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
.
In 1727 he married; his wife died in 1750.
In the year 1740, he began lecturing in experimental philosophy in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, until 1742, and the 1745 Jacobite rising brought him to take arms for the government for four years, and he was a volunteer at the battle of Preston-pans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
.
In 1746 he resumed his lectures, and worked on the influence of electricity on vegetables. Three years later, he began traveling throughout Britain and Europe, lecturing in Dublin and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1753, he was invited to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by the Prince of Wales, later George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, and the Duke of York, on his return to England he married his second wife, Sarah Horne who was a sister of John Horne Tooke
John Horne Tooke
John Horne Tooke was an English politician and philologist.-Early life and work:He was born in Newport Street, Long Acre, Westminster, the third son of John Horne, a poulterer in Newport Market. As a youth at Eton College, Tooke described his father to friends as a "turkey merchant"...
. In 1755 he read a public course of lectures in the concert-room in Panton-street, and after gave private courses to members of the royal family, including the future King George III.
In 1768, he was appointed Superintendent of the King's Observatory (or King's 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...
) at the Kew Observatory
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, in Richmond, which King George II had commissioned from Sir William Chambers
William Chambers (architect)
Sir William Chambers was a Scottish architect, born in Gothenburg, Sweden, where his father was a merchant. Between 1740 and 1749 he was employed by the Swedish East India Company making several voyages to China where he studied Chinese architecture and decoration.Returning to Europe, he studied...
. He arranged for George III to see the Transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
on June 3, 1769. He held that appointment until his death on February 20, 1782.
His instruments were combined with the King's collection and given to the King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and then, in 1927 to the Science Museum
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
.