William Michael Herbert Greaves
Encyclopedia
William Michael Herbert Greaves FRS (10 September 1897 – 24 December 1955) was a British
astronomer
.
He was born in Barbados
, West Indies to Dr. E. C. Greaves, a medical doctor trained at Edinburgh University. William Greaves was educated first at Lodge School and Codrington College
in Barbados then travelled to England to study at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1922.
He is most noted for his work on stellar spectro-photometry
.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
in 1921, and from 1924 until 1938 he was the chief assistant at the RAS. In 1938 he became Astronomer Royal for Scotland
, and in 1939 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
. He remained Astronomer Royal until 1955, and was Regius Professor of Astronomy at Edinburgh University for the same period. In 1943 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. From 1947 until 1949 he was president of the Royal Astronomical Society
.
In 1926 he married Caroline Grace, and the couple had a son, George Richard Herbert Greaves (1941-2008) who became Reader in Mathematics at Cardiff University
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
.
He was born in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, West Indies to Dr. E. C. Greaves, a medical doctor trained at Edinburgh University. William Greaves was educated first at Lodge School and Codrington College
Codrington College
Codrington College is an Anglican theological college in St. John, Barbados. It was founded by Christopher Codrington, who after his death in 1710 left portions of his 'estates' - two slave labour plantations on Barbados and areas of Barbuda - to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in...
in Barbados then travelled to England to study at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1922.
He is most noted for his work on stellar spectro-photometry
Photometry (astronomy)
Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
.
He was elected a Fellow 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...
in 1921, and from 1924 until 1938 he was the chief assistant at the RAS. In 1938 he became Astronomer Royal for Scotland
Astronomer Royal for Scotland
Astronomer Royal for Scotland was the title of the director of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh until 1995. It has since been an honorary title.The following have served as Astronomers Royal for Scotland:* 1834–1844 Thomas Henderson...
, and in 1939 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
. He remained Astronomer Royal until 1955, and was Regius Professor of Astronomy at Edinburgh University for the same period. In 1943 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. From 1947 until 1949 he was president 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...
.
In 1926 he married Caroline Grace, and the couple had a son, George Richard Herbert Greaves (1941-2008) who became Reader in Mathematics at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
.
Awards and honors
- Tyson Gold Medal for Astronomy.
- Awarded Smith's prizeSmith's PrizeThe Smith's Prize was the name of each of two prizes awarded annually to two research students in theoretical Physics, mathematics and applied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.- History :...
in 1921. - The crater GreavesGreaves (crater)Greaves is a small lunar impact crater that lies near the southwest edge of Mare Crisium. It is a circular, bowl-shaped formation with a small interior floor at the center of the sloping inner walls. The crater is intruding into the northern edge of the lava-flooded crater Lick...
on the MoonMoonThe 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.